M4.3 Earthquake 66 km S of Port-Vila, Vanuatu — May 17, 2025
2025-05-17 17:00:43 UTC (2025-05-17) · approx. 4:00 AM UTC+11 local
On May 17, 2025 at 17:00 UTC, a magnitude 4.3 shallow crustal earthquake struck 66 km S of Port-Vila, Vanuatu, at a depth of 39.8 km and coordinates -18.3323°, 168.4127°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.3 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 43 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 558 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
168.4127°E
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.3 earthquake near Port-Vila, Vanuatu?
The magnitude 4.3 earthquake that struck 66 km S of Port-Vila, Vanuatu on May 17, 2025 at 17:00 UTC had a depth of 39.8 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 4.3 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.3 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000qgws). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2025, May 17, 2025). M4.3 Earthquake 66 km S of Port-Vila, Vanuatu — May 17, 2025. Retrieved July 25, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000qgws/