M5.2 Earthquake 206 km NW of Port-Olry, Vanuatu — October 20, 2026
2026-10-20 06:29:22 UTC (2 hours ago) · approx. 5:29 PM UTC+11 local
Aftershock of the M6.3 mainshock.
On October 20, 2026 at 06:29 UTC, a magnitude 5.2 shallow crustal earthquake struck 206 km NW of Port-Olry, Vanuatu, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates -13.8570°, 165.5874°. This earthquake was detected by 58 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 416, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.2 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 951 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 2.3 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
This earthquake is part of an ongoing aftershock sequence following the magnitude 6.3 mainshock that occurred 4 hours ago 197 km NW of Port-Olry, Vanuatu. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 12 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for weeks to months as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
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
165.5874°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.2 earthquake near Port-Olry, Vanuatu?
The magnitude 5.2 earthquake that struck 206 km NW of Port-Olry, Vanuatu on October 20, 2026 at 06:29 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 -13.8570°, 165.5874°, which is 206 km NW of Port-Olry, Vanuatu. View all earthquakes in Vanuatu.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.2 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M6.3 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 5.2 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 6.3 mainshock that occurred earlier 197 km NW of Port-Olry, Vanuatu. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
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 5.2 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000u3k5). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, October 20, 2026). M5.2 Earthquake 206 km NW of Port-Olry, Vanuatu — October 20, 2026. Retrieved October 20, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000u3k5/