M4.7 Earthquake 164 km SSE of Isangel, Vanuatu — September 9, 2026
2026-09-09 20:21:13 UTC (2 hours ago) · approx. 7:21 AM UTC+11 local
On September 9, 2026 at 20:21 UTC, a magnitude 4.7 intermediate depth earthquake struck 164 km SSE of Isangel, Vanuatu, at a depth of 104.7 km and coordinates -20.9734°, 169.6974°. This earthquake was detected by 66 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 340, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.7 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 169 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.1 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
169.6974°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.7 earthquake near Isangel, Vanuatu?
The magnitude 4.7 earthquake that struck 164 km SSE of Isangel, Vanuatu on September 9, 2026 at 20:21 UTC had a depth of 104.7 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -20.9734°, 169.6974°, which is 164 km SSE of Isangel, Vanuatu. View all earthquakes in Vanuatu.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.7 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 4.7 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000tg5p). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, September 9, 2026). M4.7 Earthquake 164 km SSE of Isangel, Vanuatu — September 9, 2026. Retrieved September 9, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000tg5p/