M4.8 Earthquake 164 km NNW of Sola, Vanuatu — June 20, 2020
2020-06-20 21:29:53 UTC (2020-06-20) · approx. 8:29 AM UTC+11 local
Aftershock of the M5.0 mainshock.
On June 20, 2020 at 21:29 UTC, a magnitude 4.8 intermediate depth earthquake struck 164 km NNW of Sola, Vanuatu, at a depth of 134.0 km and coordinates -12.5798°, 166.8091°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.8 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 239 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.2 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
This earthquake is part of an ongoing aftershock sequence following the magnitude 5.0 mainshock that occurred 21 days ago 201 km SSE of Lata, Solomon Islands. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 0 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
The epicenter is located in Vanuatu, a region characterized by the New Hebrides subduction zone, where the Australian Plate subducts eastward at approximately 90 mm per year. View all earthquakes in Vanuatu.
Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences
Earthquake Details
166.8091°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.8 earthquake near Sola, Vanuatu?
The magnitude 4.8 earthquake that struck 164 km NNW of Sola, Vanuatu on June 20, 2020 at 21:29 UTC had a depth of 134.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -12.5798°, 166.8091°, which is 164 km NNW of Sola, Vanuatu. View all earthquakes in Vanuatu.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.8 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.0 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.8 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.0 mainshock that occurred earlier 201 km SSE of Lata, Solomon Islands. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
Has Vanuatu had earthquakes this big before?
The largest recorded earthquake in Vanuatu was the M7.9 Vanuatu earthquake of October 7, 2009. Today's magnitude 4.8 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000afkj). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2020, June 20, 2020). M4.8 Earthquake 164 km NNW of Sola, Vanuatu — June 20, 2020. Retrieved August 30, 2020 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000afkj/