M5.3 Earthquake 55 km ENE of Lakatoro, Vanuatu — March 12, 2021
2021-03-12 01:03:51 UTC (2021-03-12) · approx. 12:03 PM UTC+11 local
On March 12, 2021 at 01:03 UTC, a magnitude 5.3 intermediate depth earthquake struck 55 km ENE of Lakatoro, Vanuatu, at a depth of 162.3 km and coordinates -15.9574°, 167.9117°.
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
167.9117°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.3 earthquake near Lakatoro, Vanuatu?
The magnitude 5.3 earthquake that struck 55 km ENE of Lakatoro, Vanuatu on March 12, 2021 at 01:03 UTC had a depth of 162.3 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -15.9574°, 167.9117°, which is 55 km ENE of Lakatoro, 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: us7000dia4). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, March 12, 2021). M5.3 Earthquake 55 km ENE of Lakatoro, Vanuatu — March 12, 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000dia4/