M5.1 Earthquake 40 km NE of Luganville, Vanuatu — November 9, 2023
2023-11-09 14:12:08 UTC (2023-11-09) · approx. 1:12 AM UTC+11 local
On November 9, 2023 at 14:12 UTC, a magnitude 5.1 intermediate depth earthquake struck 40 km NE of Luganville, Vanuatu, at a depth of 127.4 km and coordinates -15.3103°, 167.4697°. This earthquake was detected by 64 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 400, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.1 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 674 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 2.0 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
167.4697°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.1 earthquake near Luganville, Vanuatu?
The magnitude 5.1 earthquake that struck 40 km NE of Luganville, Vanuatu on November 9, 2023 at 14:12 UTC had a depth of 127.4 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -15.3103°, 167.4697°, which is 40 km NE of Luganville, Vanuatu. View all earthquakes in Vanuatu.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.1 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 5.1 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000l9ul). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, November 9, 2023). M5.1 Earthquake 40 km NE of Luganville, Vanuatu — November 9, 2023. Retrieved January 13, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000l9ul/