M4.4 Earthquake 37 km SSE of Lakatoro, Vanuatu — May 15, 2023
2023-05-15 22:01:29 UTC (2023-05-15) · approx. 9:01 AM UTC+11 local
On May 15, 2023 at 22:01 UTC, a magnitude 4.4 shallow crustal earthquake struck 37 km SSE of Lakatoro, Vanuatu, at a depth of 32.0 km and coordinates -16.4287°, 167.5052°.
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
167.5052°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.4 earthquake near Lakatoro, Vanuatu?
The magnitude 4.4 earthquake that struck 37 km SSE of Lakatoro, Vanuatu on May 15, 2023 at 22:01 UTC had a depth of 32.0 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 4.4 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: us6000kd6e). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, May 15, 2023). M4.4 Earthquake 37 km SSE of Lakatoro, Vanuatu — May 15, 2023. Retrieved July 24, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000kd6e/