M4.9 Earthquake 35 km ENE of Port-Olry, Vanuatu — September 2, 2020
2020-09-02 00:58:05 UTC (2020-09-02) · approx. 11:58 AM UTC+11 local
Aftershock of the M5.2 mainshock.
On September 2, 2020 at 00:58 UTC, a magnitude 4.9 intermediate depth earthquake struck 35 km ENE of Port-Olry, Vanuatu, at a depth of 116.6 km and coordinates -14.8967°, 167.3711°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.9 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 338 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.4 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 5.2 mainshock that occurred 25 days ago 35 km NE of Luganville, Vanuatu. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 0 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks 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
167.3711°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.9 earthquake near Port-Olry, Vanuatu?
The magnitude 4.9 earthquake that struck 35 km ENE of Port-Olry, Vanuatu on September 2, 2020 at 00:58 UTC had a depth of 116.6 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -14.8967°, 167.3711°, which is 35 km ENE of Port-Olry, Vanuatu. View all earthquakes in Vanuatu.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.9 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.2 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.9 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.2 mainshock that occurred earlier 35 km NE of Luganville, 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 4.9 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000bg96). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2020, September 2, 2020). M4.9 Earthquake 35 km ENE of Port-Olry, Vanuatu — September 2, 2020. Retrieved November 17, 2020 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000bg96/