M5.3 Earthquake 184 km SSW of Port-Vila, Vanuatu — December 20, 2020
2020-12-20 20:43:50 UTC (2020-12-20) · approx. 7:43 AM UTC+11 local
On December 20, 2020 at 20:43 UTC, a magnitude 5.3 shallow crustal earthquake struck 184 km SSW of Port-Vila, Vanuatu, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates -19.2175°, 167.5110°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.3 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 1 kilotons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 2.7 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
Earthquake Details
167.5110°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.3 earthquake near Port-Vila, Vanuatu?
The magnitude 5.3 earthquake that struck 184 km SSW of Port-Vila, Vanuatu on December 20, 2020 at 20:43 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 -19.2175°, 167.5110°, which is 184 km SSW of Port-Vila, Vanuatu. View all earthquakes in Vanuatu.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.3 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 5.3 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000csrv). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2020, December 20, 2020). M5.3 Earthquake 184 km SSW of Port-Vila, Vanuatu — December 20, 2020. Retrieved December 22, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000csrv/