M4.4 Earthquake in the Vanuatu region — December 15, 2023
2023-12-15 22:03:00 UTC (2023-12-15) · approx. 9:03 AM UTC+11 local
On December 15, 2023 at 22:03 UTC, a magnitude 4.4 deep-focus earthquake struck in the Vanuatu region, at a depth of 625.9 km and coordinates -13.9653°, 171.1813°.
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.
Earthquake Details
171.1813°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.4 earthquake in the Vanuatu region?
The magnitude 4.4 earthquake that struck in the Vanuatu region on December 15, 2023 at 22:03 UTC had a depth of 625.9 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.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.4 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000ljee). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, December 15, 2023). M4.4 Earthquake in the Vanuatu region — December 15, 2023. Retrieved February 17, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000ljee/