M5.0 Earthquake 40 km SSW of Luganville, Vanuatu — May 28, 2025
2025-05-28 21:22:47 UTC (2025-05-28) · approx. 8:22 AM UTC+11 local
On May 28, 2025 at 21:22 UTC, a magnitude 5.0 shallow crustal earthquake struck 40 km SSW of Luganville, Vanuatu, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates -15.8553°, 167.0117°. This earthquake was detected by 69 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 385, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.0 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 477 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.7 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
167.0117°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.0 earthquake near Luganville, Vanuatu?
The magnitude 5.0 earthquake that struck 40 km SSW of Luganville, Vanuatu on May 28, 2025 at 21:22 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 -15.8553°, 167.0117°, which is 40 km SSW of Luganville, Vanuatu. View all earthquakes in Vanuatu.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.0 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 5.0 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000qgib). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2025, May 28, 2025). M5.0 Earthquake 40 km SSW of Luganville, Vanuatu — May 28, 2025. Retrieved August 16, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000qgib/