What the record shows for Macquarie Island
The strongest earthquake on record near Macquarie Island is a magnitude 8.0 in 1989, centred 1989 Macquarie Ridge Earthquake - 37 years ago. The event is catalogued by USGS. See the event record.
Over the last 20 years, USGS has catalogued 242 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater within 444 km of Macquarie Island - roughly 12 a year. That rate describes how often the ground moves enough to be recorded, not how often damage occurs; most of these are never felt.
The NOAA NCEI database records 2 tsunamis within 444 km of Macquarie Island between 1924 and 1989. The most significant was in 1989 near Macquarie Island, triggered by an M8.1 earthquake.
Sources: USGS earthquake catalog, NOAA tsunami database, and the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. Figures update as the catalogs are revised.
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The Macquarie Ridge between New Zealand and Antarctica is a major transform boundary that has produced some of the largest strike-slip earthquakes on record.
The only real protection is a warning the moment the ground moves - which is exactly what the free QuakeMate app gives you, along with tsunami and volcano alerts for Macquarie Island.
Earthquake risk in Macquarie Island - FAQ
Is Macquarie Island at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 12 quakes a year nearby of magnitude 4+ within 444 km, based on the last 20 years of USGS data. The strongest earthquake on record nearby is M8.0 in 1989.
What was the biggest earthquake in Macquarie Island?
The strongest earthquake on record near Macquarie Island is M8.0, in 1989 (1989 Macquarie Ridge Earthquake), from USGS.
Does Macquarie Island get tsunamis?
Yes - 2 tsunamis since 1924 (most recently 1989) within 444 km, from the NOAA database.
How do I get earthquake warnings in Macquarie Island?
Download the free QuakeMate app for iPhone. It watches your location and sends a real-time push the instant a quake strikes nearby, plus tsunami and volcano alerts, with custom magnitude and distance rules. On Android, join the waitlist.