M4.5 Earthquake 34 km W of Port-Olry, Vanuatu — January 12, 2023
2023-01-12 15:09:16 UTC (2023-01-12) · approx. 2:09 AM UTC+11 local
On January 12, 2023 at 15:09 UTC, a magnitude 4.5 shallow crustal earthquake struck 34 km W of Port-Olry, Vanuatu, at a depth of 35.0 km and coordinates -15.0307°, 166.7492°. This earthquake was detected by 60 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 312, placing it among routine seismic activity.
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
Earthquake Details
166.7492°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.5 earthquake near Port-Olry, Vanuatu?
The magnitude 4.5 earthquake that struck 34 km W of Port-Olry, Vanuatu on January 12, 2023 at 15:09 UTC had a depth of 35.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -15.0307°, 166.7492°, which is 34 km W 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: us7000j5u3). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, January 12, 2023). M4.5 Earthquake 34 km W of Port-Olry, Vanuatu — January 12, 2023. Retrieved March 20, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000j5u3/