M4.6 Earthquake 120 km ENE of Luganville, Vanuatu — May 17, 2024
2024-05-17 18:36:25 UTC (2024-05-17) · approx. 5:36 AM UTC+11 local
On May 17, 2024 at 18:36 UTC, a magnitude 4.6 shallow crustal earthquake struck 120 km ENE of Luganville, Vanuatu, at a depth of 9.9 km and coordinates -15.1740°, 168.2267°. This earthquake was detected by 32 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 326, placing it among routine seismic activity.
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
168.2267°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.6 earthquake near Luganville, Vanuatu?
The magnitude 4.6 earthquake that struck 120 km ENE of Luganville, Vanuatu on May 17, 2024 at 18:36 UTC had a depth of 9.9 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -15.1740°, 168.2267°, which is 120 km ENE of Luganville, 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: us6000n0i9). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, May 17, 2024). M4.6 Earthquake 120 km ENE of Luganville, Vanuatu — May 17, 2024. Retrieved July 26, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000n0i9/