4.7

M4.7 Earthquake 33 km N of Isangel, Vanuatu — July 2, 2021

2021-07-02 14:27:01 UTC (2021-07-02) · approx. 1:27 AM UTC+11 local

MagnitudeM4.7(mb)
Time14:27 UTC≈ 1:27 AM UTC+11
Depth145.2 kmintermediate depth
Coordinates-19.239°, 169.268°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On July 2, 2021 at 14:27 UTC, a magnitude 4.7 intermediate depth earthquake struck 33 km N of Isangel, Vanuatu, at a depth of 145.2 km and coordinates -19.2386°, 169.2675°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.7 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 169 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.1 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

Map showing earthquake epicenter at -19.24°, 169.27°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.7 mb
Depth
145.2 km
intermediate depth
Location
-19.2386°N
169.2675°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us7000ei8t
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
340
Azimuthal Gap
81.0°
Min Station Distance
3.764°
RMS Residual
0.49 sec
Last Updated
2021-09-10 20:08:41 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.7 earthquake near Isangel, Vanuatu?

The magnitude 4.7 earthquake that struck 33 km N of Isangel, Vanuatu on July 2, 2021 at 14:27 UTC had a depth of 145.2 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.

Where did the earthquake occur?

The earthquake epicenter was located at -19.2386°, 169.2675°, which is 33 km N of Isangel, Vanuatu. View all earthquakes in Vanuatu.

Were there aftershocks?

Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.7 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 4.7 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000ei8t). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, July 2, 2021). M4.7 Earthquake 33 km N of Isangel, Vanuatu — July 2, 2021. Retrieved September 10, 2021 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000ei8t/