4.9

M4.9 Earthquake 69 km ENE of Luganville, VanuatuJune 13, 2022

2022-06-13 17:26:55 UTC (2022-06-13) · approx. 4:26 AM UTC+11 local

MagnitudeM4.9(mb)
Time17:26 UTC4:26 AM UTC+11
Depth225.9 kmintermediate depth
Coordinates-15.389°, 167.796°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On June 13, 2022 at 17:26 UTC, a magnitude 4.9 intermediate depth earthquake struck 69 km ENE of Luganville, Vanuatu, at a depth of 225.9 km and coordinates -15.3885°, 167.7963°. This earthquake was detected by 85 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 369, placing it among routine seismic activity.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.9 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 338 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.4 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 -15.39°, 167.80°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.9 mb
Depth
225.9 km
intermediate depth
Location
-15.3885°N
167.7963°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us7000hh4a
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
369
Stations Used
85
Azimuthal Gap
109.0°
Min Station Distance
0.574°
RMS Residual
0.79 sec
Last Updated
2022-08-21 00:16:51 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.9 earthquake near Luganville, Vanuatu?

The magnitude 4.9 earthquake that struck 69 km ENE of Luganville, Vanuatu on June 13, 2022 at 17:26 UTC had a depth of 225.9 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.

Where did the earthquake occur?

The earthquake epicenter was located at -15.3885°, 167.7963°, which is 69 km ENE of Luganville, Vanuatu. View all earthquakes in Vanuatu.

Were there aftershocks?

Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.9 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 4.9 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000hh4a). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2022, June 13, 2022). M4.9 Earthquake 69 km ENE of Luganville, VanuatuJune 13, 2022. Retrieved August 21, 2022 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000hh4a/