4.2

M4.2 Earthquake 135 km NW of Sola, VanuatuOctober 7, 2022

2022-10-07 22:58:35 UTC (2022-10-07) · approx. 9:58 AM UTC+11 local

MagnitudeM4.2(mb)
Time22:58 UTC9:58 AM UTC+11
Depth96.0 kmintermediate depth
Coordinates-12.975°, 166.710°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On October 7, 2022 at 22:58 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 intermediate depth earthquake struck 135 km NW of Sola, Vanuatu, at a depth of 96.0 km and coordinates -12.9749°, 166.7105°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.2 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 30 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 476 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at -12.97°, 166.71°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.2 mb
Depth
96.0 km
intermediate depth
Location
-12.9749°N
166.7105°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000itbk
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
271
Stations Used
21
Azimuthal Gap
127.0°
Min Station Distance
2.504°
RMS Residual
0.20 sec
Last Updated
2022-12-10 22:54:11 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake near Sola, Vanuatu?

The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck 135 km NW of Sola, Vanuatu on October 7, 2022 at 22:58 UTC had a depth of 96.0 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 4.2 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 4.2 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000itbk). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2022, October 7, 2022). M4.2 Earthquake 135 km NW of Sola, VanuatuOctober 7, 2022. Retrieved December 10, 2022 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000itbk/