4.5

M4.5 Earthquake 30 km NNE of Port-Olry, Vanuatu — July 2, 2021

2021-07-02 18:01:48 UTC (2021-07-02) · approx. 5:01 AM UTC+11 local

MagnitudeM4.5(mb)
Time18:01 UTC≈ 5:01 AM UTC+11
Depth105.2 kmintermediate depth
Coordinates-14.810°, 167.224°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On July 2, 2021 at 18:01 UTC, a magnitude 4.5 intermediate depth earthquake struck 30 km NNE of Port-Olry, Vanuatu, at a depth of 105.2 km and coordinates -14.8102°, 167.2243°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.5 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 85 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 767 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

Map showing earthquake epicenter at -14.81°, 167.22°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.5 mb
Depth
105.2 km
intermediate depth
Location
-14.8102°N
167.2243°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us7000ejcv
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
312
Azimuthal Gap
144.0°
Min Station Distance
0.633°
RMS Residual
1.15 sec
Last Updated
2021-09-10 20:08:42 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.5 earthquake near Port-Olry, Vanuatu?

The magnitude 4.5 earthquake that struck 30 km NNE of Port-Olry, Vanuatu on July 2, 2021 at 18:01 UTC had a depth of 105.2 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.

Where did the earthquake occur?

The earthquake epicenter was located at -14.8102°, 167.2243°, which is 30 km NNE of Port-Olry, Vanuatu. View all earthquakes in Vanuatu.

Were there aftershocks?

Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.5 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 4.5 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000ejcv). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, July 2, 2021). M4.5 Earthquake 30 km NNE of Port-Olry, Vanuatu — July 2, 2021. Retrieved September 10, 2021 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000ejcv/