M5.1 Earthquake 41 km ENE of Port-Olry, Vanuatu — September 12, 2020
2020-09-12 06:47:22 UTC (2020-09-12) · approx. 5:47 PM UTC+11 local
Aftershock of the M5.2 mainshock.
On September 12, 2020 at 06:47 UTC, a magnitude 5.1 intermediate depth earthquake struck 41 km ENE of Port-Olry, Vanuatu, at a depth of 133.8 km and coordinates -14.8355°, 167.3917°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.1 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 674 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 2.0 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 24 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
167.3917°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.1 earthquake near Port-Olry, Vanuatu?
The magnitude 5.1 earthquake that struck 41 km ENE of Port-Olry, Vanuatu on September 12, 2020 at 06:47 UTC had a depth of 133.8 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -14.8355°, 167.3917°, which is 41 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 5.1 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.2 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 5.1 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 5.1 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000bmbi). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2020, September 12, 2020). M5.1 Earthquake 41 km ENE of Port-Olry, Vanuatu — September 12, 2020. Retrieved December 22, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000bmbi/