M5.0 Earthquake 32 km ENE of Luganville, Vanuatu — April 22, 2026
2026-04-22 13:20:45 UTC (2026-04-22) · approx. 12:20 AM UTC+11 local
Felt by 1 person across nearby locations.
On April 22, 2026 at 13:20 UTC, a magnitude 5.0 intermediate depth earthquake struck 32 km ENE of Luganville, Vanuatu, at a depth of 119.2 km and coordinates -15.4452°, 167.4535°. This earthquake was detected by 78 seismic stations with excellent 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
Did You Feel It? — community-reported shaking
Aggregated felt-report intensity from 1 citizen response to the USGS Did You Feel It? system. Each colored zone represents the average MMI from reports in that area.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey Did You Feel It?. View on USGS · submit your own report
Earthquake Details
167.4535°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.0 earthquake near Luganville, Vanuatu?
The magnitude 5.0 earthquake that struck 32 km ENE of Luganville, Vanuatu on April 22, 2026 at 13:20 UTC had a depth of 119.2 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -15.4452°, 167.4535°, which is 32 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 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.
What should I do after an earthquake?
If you were in the affected area: check yourself and others for injuries, inspect your home for damage, and be prepared for aftershocks. For detailed guidance, see our earthquake safety guide and emergency planning resources.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000ss20). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, April 22, 2026). M5.0 Earthquake 32 km ENE of Luganville, Vanuatu — April 22, 2026. Retrieved July 3, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000ss20/