M4.8 Earthquake near Vanuatu — August 21, 2023
2023-08-21 04:15:20 UTC (2023-08-21) · approx. 3:15 PM UTC+11 local
On August 21, 2023 at 04:15 UTC, a magnitude 4.8 shallow crustal earthquake struck near Vanuatu, at a depth of 51.9 km and coordinates -14.8189°, 166.6917°. This earthquake was detected by 38 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 354, placing it among routine seismic activity.
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
166.6917°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.8 earthquake near Vanuatu?
The magnitude 4.8 earthquake that struck near Vanuatu on August 21, 2023 at 04:15 UTC had a depth of 51.9 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -14.8189°, 166.6917°, which is near 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: us7000krhq). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, August 21, 2023). M4.8 Earthquake near Vanuatu — August 21, 2023. Retrieved October 28, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000krhq/