Earthquakes in New Caledonia — January 2026

6 earthquakes were recorded in New Caledonia during January 2026, an average of 0.2 per day.

6 reached magnitude 4 or above and 3 reached magnitude 5 or above. The average focal depth was 10 km.

The month's largest event in New Caledonia was a magnitude 6.0 earthquake near Tadine, New Caledonia on 19 January 2026 at 13:02 UTC. A magnitude 6.0 earthquake radiates roughly 15,080 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.

That is well above the New Caledonia monthly average of 2 events over the period we cover — an unusually active month, and up from the 2 recorded the previous month.

100% of events here are shallow (under 70 km), 0% intermediate (70–300 km) and 0% deep-focus (over 300 km). Almost everything here is crustal. That is characteristic of transform faulting or continental deformation rather than subduction — and it means shaking at the surface is strong for the magnitudes involved.

By band, the catalogue holds 3 in the magnitude 4 range, 2 in the magnitude 5 range, 1 in the magnitude 6 range.

Activity peaked on 19 January, when 3 events were recorded.

The month's largest events were M6.0 near Tadine, New Caledonia on 19 January at 10 km; M5.3 near Tadine, New Caledonia on 20 January at 10 km; M5.0 near Tadine, New Caledonia on 19 January at 10 km.

That is 230% above the 2 events New Caledonia averages per month across the 11 months on record.

This month also holds the strongest earthquake recorded in New Caledonia in our entire catalogue.