M4.4 Earthquake near Vanuatu — March 12, 2022
2022-03-12 21:47:22 UTC (2022-03-12) · approx. 8:47 AM UTC+11 local
On March 12, 2022 at 21:47 UTC, a magnitude 4.4 intermediate depth earthquake struck near Vanuatu, at a depth of 267.1 km and coordinates -15.8943°, 168.3303°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.4 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 60 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 655 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
168.3303°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.4 earthquake near Vanuatu?
The magnitude 4.4 earthquake that struck near Vanuatu on March 12, 2022 at 21:47 UTC had a depth of 267.1 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.4 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.4 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000h436). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2022, March 12, 2022). M4.4 Earthquake near Vanuatu — March 12, 2022. Retrieved May 27, 2022 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000h436/