4.9

M4.9 Earthquake 52 km NW of Port-Vila, VanuatuJune 13, 2025

2025-06-13 01:29:21 UTC (2025-06-13) · approx. 12:29 PM UTC+11 local

MagnitudeM4.9(mb)
Time01:29 UTC12:29 PM UTC+11
Depth20.2 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates-17.464°, 167.911°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On June 13, 2025 at 01:29 UTC, a magnitude 4.9 shallow crustal earthquake struck 52 km NW of Port-Vila, Vanuatu, at a depth of 20.2 km and coordinates -17.4643°, 167.9105°. This earthquake was detected by 27 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 369, placing it among routine seismic activity.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.9 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 338 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.4 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

Map showing earthquake epicenter at -17.46°, 167.91°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.9 mb
Depth
20.2 km
shallow crustal
Location
-17.4643°N
167.9105°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us7000q93e
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
369
Stations Used
27
Azimuthal Gap
167.0°
Min Station Distance
2.118°
RMS Residual
0.66 sec
Last Updated
2025-08-22 20:26:04 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.9 earthquake near Port-Vila, Vanuatu?

The magnitude 4.9 earthquake that struck 52 km NW of Port-Vila, Vanuatu on June 13, 2025 at 01:29 UTC had a depth of 20.2 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.

Where did the earthquake occur?

The earthquake epicenter was located at -17.4643°, 167.9105°, which is 52 km NW of Port-Vila, Vanuatu. View all earthquakes in Vanuatu.

Were there aftershocks?

Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.9 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 4.9 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000q93e). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2025, June 13, 2025). M4.9 Earthquake 52 km NW of Port-Vila, VanuatuJune 13, 2025. Retrieved August 22, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000q93e/