M4.9 Earthquake near Vanuatu — October 12, 2020
2020-10-12 23:49:48 UTC (2020-10-12) · approx. 10:49 AM UTC+11 local
On October 12, 2020 at 23:49 UTC, a magnitude 4.9 intermediate depth earthquake struck near Vanuatu, at a depth of 210.7 km and coordinates -19.3287°, 169.4053°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.9 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 338 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.4 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
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
169.4053°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.9 earthquake near Vanuatu?
The magnitude 4.9 earthquake that struck near Vanuatu on October 12, 2020 at 23:49 UTC had a depth of 210.7 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -19.3287°, 169.4053°, which is near Vanuatu. View all earthquakes in Vanuatu.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.9 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
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 4.9 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000c7vz). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2020, October 12, 2020). M4.9 Earthquake near Vanuatu — October 12, 2020. Retrieved December 22, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000c7vz/