A shallow, strong earthquake struck Vanuatu this afternoon.
The magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck at 3:03 p.m. New Zealand time on Monday the 8th of September 2008 at a depth of 35 km. It was located 55 km south-south-west of Isangel, Tanna, Vanuatu (210 km north-east of Tadine, Loyalty Islands), 265 km south-south-east of the Vanuatu capital Port Vila.
Today’s quake follows two events of moderate strength in the area during the past week. A magnitude 5.2 quake on the morning of September 3rd New Zealand time was located 105 km south of Isangel, 180 km north-east of Tadine.
A deep magnitude 5.6 quake on the morning of the 6th was located 235 km north of Luganville, Espiritu Santo, further north of today’s event. Deep quakes of magnitude 5.1 and 5.6 were recorded in the Santa Cruz Islands on September 4th.
[Compiled from data supplied by the U.S. Geological Survey and its contributing agencies.]