M5.3 Earthquake 38 km SW of Luganville, Vanuatu — July 9, 2023
2023-07-09 18:43:39 UTC (2023-07-09) · approx. 5:43 AM UTC+11 local
On July 9, 2023 at 18:43 UTC, a magnitude 5.3 shallow crustal earthquake struck 38 km SW of Luganville, Vanuatu, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates -15.7717°, 166.9122°. This earthquake was detected by 104 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 432, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.3 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 1 kilotons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 2.7 km — 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
166.9122°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.3 earthquake near Luganville, Vanuatu?
The magnitude 5.3 earthquake that struck 38 km SW of Luganville, Vanuatu on July 9, 2023 at 18:43 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -15.7717°, 166.9122°, which is 38 km SW of Luganville, Vanuatu. View all earthquakes in Vanuatu.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.3 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks 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 5.3 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000kr68). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, July 9, 2023). M5.3 Earthquake 38 km SW of Luganville, Vanuatu — July 9, 2023. Retrieved September 16, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000kr68/