M4.6 Earthquake 178 km WNW of Isangel, Vanuatu — December 25, 2020
2020-12-25 23:09:11 UTC (2020-12-25) · approx. 10:09 AM UTC+11 local
On December 25, 2020 at 23:09 UTC, a magnitude 4.6 shallow crustal earthquake struck 178 km WNW of Isangel, Vanuatu, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates -19.2232°, 167.6153°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.6 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 120 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 899 m — 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
167.6153°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.6 earthquake near Isangel, Vanuatu?
The magnitude 4.6 earthquake that struck 178 km WNW of Isangel, Vanuatu on December 25, 2020 at 23:09 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -19.2232°, 167.6153°, which is 178 km WNW of Isangel, Vanuatu. View all earthquakes in Vanuatu.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.6 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 4.6 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000d63l). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2020, December 25, 2020). M4.6 Earthquake 178 km WNW of Isangel, Vanuatu — December 25, 2020. Retrieved March 6, 2021 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000d63l/