M4.6 Earthquake 175 km NNW of Sola, Vanuatu — January 7, 2021
2021-01-07 21:27:36 UTC (2021-01-07) · approx. 8:27 AM UTC+11 local
On January 7, 2021 at 21:27 UTC, a magnitude 4.6 intermediate depth earthquake struck 175 km NNW of Sola, Vanuatu, at a depth of 226.6 km and coordinates -12.3616°, 167.0569°.
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
167.0569°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.6 earthquake near Sola, Vanuatu?
The magnitude 4.6 earthquake that struck 175 km NNW of Sola, Vanuatu on January 7, 2021 at 21:27 UTC had a depth of 226.6 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -12.3616°, 167.0569°, which is 175 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 4.6 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: us6000d6kk). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, January 7, 2021). M4.6 Earthquake 175 km NNW of Sola, Vanuatu — January 7, 2021. Retrieved March 13, 2021 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000d6kk/