Earthquakes Near Vanuatu

A series of four moderate to strong earthquakes have struck at varying depths near Vanuatu since Sunday morning, New Zealand time. Three of the events have been located within 180 km of Luganville and all within 450 km of Port Vila.

A magnitude 6.0 quake struck at a depth of 41 km at 5:21 a.m. on Sunday 22nd April 2007, NZST. This quake was located 450 km NNW of Port Vila, 180 km north of Luganville according to the US Geological Survey. Geoscience Australia put the quake somewhat deeper at 60 km with magnitude 6.2 at a location nearby.

A magnitude 5.1 earthquake struck 330 km SSE of Port Vila on the 23rd at 9:45 p.m. NZST. The quake was deeper at 83 km.

On Anzac Day afternoon, a magnitude 5.2 quake struck at 3:23 p.m. at a depth of 133 km. This event was located 235 km NNW of Port Vila, 70 km ESE of Luganville.

The most recent event in the series struck at 1:34 this morning NZST, 415 km NNW of Port Vila, 140 km NNW of Luganville. The quake was magnitude 6.3 at a depth of 69 km.

[Compiled from data supplied by the US Geological Survey and its contributing agencies.]

Leave a Reply