4.4

M4.4 Earthquake 34 km NE of Luganville, VanuatuDecember 27, 2025

2025-12-27 23:52:00 UTC (2025-12-27) · approx. 10:52 AM UTC+11 local

MagnitudeM4.4(mb)
Time23:52 UTC10:52 AM UTC+11
Depth109.0 kmintermediate depth
Coordinates-15.345°, 167.427°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On December 27, 2025 at 23:52 UTC, a magnitude 4.4 intermediate depth earthquake struck 34 km NE of Luganville, Vanuatu, at a depth of 109.0 km and coordinates -15.3445°, 167.4272°.

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.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at -15.34°, 167.43°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.4 mb
Depth
109.0 km
intermediate depth
Location
-15.3445°N
167.4272°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us7000rqm0
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
298
Stations Used
17
Azimuthal Gap
262.0°
Min Station Distance
0.239°
RMS Residual
0.57 sec
Last Updated
2026-04-01 22:49:01 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.4 earthquake near Luganville, Vanuatu?

The magnitude 4.4 earthquake that struck 34 km NE of Luganville, Vanuatu on December 27, 2025 at 23:52 UTC had a depth of 109.0 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.

What should I do after an earthquake?

If you were in the affected area: check yourself and others for injuries, inspect your home for damage, and be prepared for aftershocks. For detailed guidance, see our earthquake safety guide and emergency planning resources.

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000rqm0). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2025, December 27, 2025). M4.4 Earthquake 34 km NE of Luganville, VanuatuDecember 27, 2025. Retrieved May 23, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000rqm0/