M5.2 Earthquake near Vanuatu — January 15, 2023
2023-01-15 05:32:26 UTC (2023-01-15) · approx. 4:32 PM UTC+11 local
On January 15, 2023 at 05:32 UTC, a magnitude 5.2 shallow crustal earthquake struck near Vanuatu, at a depth of 19.5 km and coordinates -15.5324°, 168.1496°. This earthquake was detected by 61 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 416, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.2 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 951 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 2.3 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
168.1496°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.2 earthquake near Vanuatu?
The magnitude 5.2 earthquake that struck near Vanuatu on January 15, 2023 at 05:32 UTC had a depth of 19.5 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -15.5324°, 168.1496°, which is near Vanuatu. View all earthquakes in Vanuatu.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.2 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks 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 5.2 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000j4gz). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, January 15, 2023). M5.2 Earthquake near Vanuatu — January 15, 2023. Retrieved March 31, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000j4gz/