M4.8 Earthquake 77 km SW of Luganville, Vanuatu — November 14, 2021
2021-11-14 20:23:39 UTC (2021-11-14) · approx. 7:23 AM UTC+11 local
On November 14, 2021 at 20:23 UTC, a magnitude 4.8 shallow crustal earthquake struck 77 km SW of Luganville, Vanuatu, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates -15.9546°, 166.5896°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.8 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 239 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.2 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
166.5896°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.8 earthquake near Luganville, Vanuatu?
The magnitude 4.8 earthquake that struck 77 km SW of Luganville, Vanuatu on November 14, 2021 at 20:23 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -15.9546°, 166.5896°, which is 77 km SW of Luganville, Vanuatu. View all earthquakes in Vanuatu.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.8 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 4.8 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000fu3s). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2021, November 14, 2021). M4.8 Earthquake 77 km SW of Luganville, Vanuatu — November 14, 2021. Retrieved December 22, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000fu3s/