M4.6 Earthquake 73 km ENE of Norsup, Vanuatu — May 24, 2021
2021-05-24 20:26:04 UTC (2021-05-24) · approx. 7:26 AM UTC+11 local
On May 24, 2021 at 20:26 UTC, a magnitude 4.6 intermediate depth earthquake struck 73 km ENE of Norsup, Vanuatu, at a depth of 135.6 km and coordinates -15.7319°, 167.9905°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.6 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 120 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 899 m — 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
167.9905°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.6 earthquake near Norsup, Vanuatu?
The magnitude 4.6 earthquake that struck 73 km ENE of Norsup, Vanuatu on May 24, 2021 at 20:26 UTC had a depth of 135.6 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -15.7319°, 167.9905°, which is 73 km ENE of Norsup, Vanuatu. View all earthquakes in Vanuatu.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.6 earthquakes can continue for several days 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 4.6 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000e5xh). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, May 24, 2021). M4.6 Earthquake 73 km ENE of Norsup, Vanuatu — May 24, 2021. Retrieved July 31, 2021 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000e5xh/