M5.1 Earthquake 121 km S of Isangel, Vanuatu — December 13, 2023
2023-12-13 03:04:18 UTC (2023-12-13) · approx. 2:04 PM UTC+11 local
On December 13, 2023 at 03:04 UTC, a magnitude 5.1 shallow crustal earthquake struck 121 km S of Isangel, Vanuatu, at a depth of 35.0 km and coordinates -20.6272°, 169.4485°. This earthquake was detected by 112 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
169.4485°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.1 earthquake near Isangel, Vanuatu?
The magnitude 5.1 earthquake that struck 121 km S of Isangel, Vanuatu on December 13, 2023 at 03:04 UTC had a depth of 35.0 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -20.6272°, 169.4485°, which is 121 km S of Isangel, 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: us7000lijx). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, December 13, 2023). M5.1 Earthquake 121 km S of Isangel, Vanuatu — December 13, 2023. Retrieved February 17, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000lijx/