M4.4 Earthquake 49 km W of Port-Olry, Vanuatu — March 2, 2023
2023-03-02 23:56:30 UTC (2023-03-02) · approx. 10:56 AM UTC+11 local
On March 2, 2023 at 23:56 UTC, a magnitude 4.4 shallow crustal earthquake struck 49 km W of Port-Olry, Vanuatu, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates -15.0880°, 166.6150°. The nearest populated place is Port-Olry (population 1,951).
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.4 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 60 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 655 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
ShakeMap — predicted shaking intensity
Modeled ground-motion intensity contoured on the Modified Mercalli scale (MMI). Computed by the USGS from the moment-tensor solution and regional ground-motion prediction equations.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey ShakeMap. View interactive ShakeMap on USGS
Population exposure (USGS PAGER)
Estimated population that experienced each level of shaking. Based on the USGS PAGER rapid impact assessment, which combines ShakeMap output with global population grids.
| Shaking intensity (MMI) | Description | Population exposed |
|---|---|---|
| MMI 3 | weak | 26,766 |
| MMI 4 | light | 483 |
Earthquake Details
166.6150°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.4 earthquake near Port-Olry, Vanuatu?
The magnitude 4.4 earthquake that struck 49 km W of Port-Olry, Vanuatu on March 2, 2023 at 23:56 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.4 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Actions
Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.4 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000jii1). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, March 2, 2023). M4.4 Earthquake 49 km W of Port-Olry, Vanuatu — March 2, 2023. Retrieved May 8, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000jii1/