Major mag. 7.0 earthquake - Vanuatu Islands on Thursday, 28 April 2016
Major magnitude. 7.0 earthquake - Coral Sea, 2.2 km northeast of Norsup, Malampa Province, Vanuatu, on Thursday, 28 April 2016 at 19:33 (GMT)
Major magnitude 7.0 earthquake at 28 km depth
28 Apr 19:40 UTC: First to report: GFZ after 7 minutes.
Hypocenter depth recalculated from 10.0 to 28.0 km.
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Date & time: 28 Apr 2016 19:33:25 UTC
Magnitude: 7
Depth: 28.0 km
Epicenter latitude / longitude: 16.05°S / 167.41°E

(
Coral Sea,
Vanuatu)
Nearest volcano:
Ambrym (78 km / 48 mi)
Nearby towns and cities:2 km (1 mi) NE of Norsup (pop: 3,000) -->
See nearby quakes!65 km (40 mi) SSE of Luganville (pop: 13,400) -->
See nearby quakes!118 km (73 mi) SSE of Port-Olry (pop: 1,950) -->
See nearby quakes!211 km (131 mi) NNW of Port Vila (pop: 35,900) -->
See nearby quakes!242 km (151 mi) S of Sola (pop: 1,170) -->
See nearby quakes!436 km (271 mi) NNW of Isangel (pop: 1,440) -->
See nearby quakes!27 km (17 mi) NNW of Malakula Island (pop: 22,900) -->
See nearby quakes!434 km (270 mi) NNW of Tanna Island (pop: 28,800) -->
See nearby quakes!
Primary data source:
GFZ (German Research Centre for Geosciences)
Estimated released energy: 2 x 10
15 joules (554 gigawatt hours, equivalent to 4.8 x 10
5 tons of TNT or 29.8 atomic bombs!)
More info
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Data for the same earthquake reported by different agencies
Info: The more agencies report about the same quake and post similar data, the more confidence you can have in the data. It takes normally up to a few hours until earthquake parameters are calculated with near-optimum precision.
Magnitude | Depth | Location | Source |
M 7.0 | 28 km | Vanuatu Islands | GFZ |
M 7.0 | 30 km | VANUATU | EMSC |
M 7.0 | 27 km | - 1km SE of Norsup, Vanuatu | USGS |
(shakemap: USGS)
User reports for this quake (2)
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Luganville (210.2 km SSE of epicenter) [Map] / Strong shaking (MMI VI)
(reported through our app)
Port Vila (214 km SSE of epicenter) [Map] / Very weak shaking (MMI II)
Aftershocks of the 7.0 quake Coral Sea, 2.2 km northeast of Norsup, Malampa Province, Vanuatu, 28 April 2016 19:33 GMT
More info
Based on its magnitude, the fault that was active during the quake ruptured along a surface of approx. 1000 km
2 (=386 sqare miles) as a first-order estimate. The length of the rupture zone thus was probably around 55 km (34 mi).
Aftershocks typically occur during the weeks, months or even a year following the quake at or near the same fault, at distances of up to approx. two times the length of the rupture zone.
The often broadly linear arrangement of aftershock epicenters encompasses the rupture zone of the main shock (check on the
map below to verify).
Recorded aftershocks, latest first (93 quakes):
30 Apr 2018 18:24 UTC
| M 5.8 | 276 km (171.5 mi) depth
| 101 km (63 mi) distance
| GFZ | Details
25 Apr 2018 05:12 UTC
| M 4.6 | 53.1 km (33 mi) depth
| 121 km (75 mi) distance
| USGS | Details
29 Mar 2018 11:13 UTC
| M 4.7 | 143 km (88.9 mi) depth
| 100 km (62 mi) distance
| GFZ | Details
22 Mar 2018 16:05 UTC
| M 5.1 | 39 km (24.2 mi) depth
| 114 km (71 mi) distance
| USGS | Details
22 Mar 2018 00:44 UTC
| M 4.9 | 129.6 km (80.5 mi) depth
| 68 km (42 mi) distance
| USGS | Details
19 Mar 2018 02:36 UTC
| M 5.3 | 134 km (83.3 mi) depth
| 51 km (31 mi) distance
| GFZ | Details
01 Feb 2018 19:23 UTC
| M 4.6 | 152.6 km (94.8 mi) depth
| 67 km (41 mi) distance
| USGS | Details
17 Jan 2018 13:56 UTC
| M 5.2 | 10 km (6.2 mi) depth
| 183 km (114 mi) distance
| GFZ | Details
15 Jan 2018 02:28 UTC
| M 5.1 | 124 km (77.1 mi) depth
| 106 km (66 mi) distance
| GFZ | Details
27 Dec 2017 20:59 UTC
| M 4.8 | 207 km (128.6 mi) depth
| 73 km (45 mi) distance
| GFZ | Details
11 Dec 2017 17:29 UTC
| M 5.5 | 204 km (126.8 mi) depth
| 189 km (117 mi) distance
| GFZ | Details
09 Dec 2017 01:15 UTC
| M 4.8 | 133 km (82.6 mi) depth
| 49 km (31 mi) distance
| EMSC | Details
08 Nov 2017 23:21 UTC
| M 4.8 | 179 km (111.2 mi) depth
| 174 km (108 mi) distance
| EMSC | Details
29 Oct 2017 06:21 UTC
| M 4.9 | 135.1 km (83.9 mi) depth
| 111 km (69 mi) distance
| USGS | Details
21 Oct 2017 16:35 UTC
| M 5.0 | 116.3 km (72.3 mi) depth
| 65 km (40 mi) distance
| USGS | Details
26 Sep 2017 11:22 UTC
| M 4.6 | 50 km (31.1 mi) depth
| 139 km (86 mi) distance
| EMSC | DetailsShow all
25 Sep 2017 15:07 UTC
| M 4.6 | 132.1 km (82.1 mi) depth
| 133 km (83 mi) distance
| USGS | Details
20 Sep 2017 15:32 UTC
| M 4.7 | 41.6 km (25.8 mi) depth
| 131 km (81 mi) distance
| USGS | Details
06 Sep 2017 10:17 UTC
| M 4.7 | 134 km (83.3 mi) depth
| 67 km (42 mi) distance
| EMSC | Details
05 Sep 2017 02:50 UTC
| M 5.3 | 209 km (129.9 mi) depth
| 67 km (42 mi) distance
| GFZ | Details
28 Aug 2017 20:26 UTC
| M 4.8 | 120 km (74.6 mi) depth
| 87 km (54 mi) distance
| EMSC | Details
25 Aug 2017 19:13 UTC
| M 5.0 | 10 km (6.2 mi) depth
| 172 km (107 mi) distance
| USGS | Details
09 Aug 2017 14:24 UTC
| M 4.7 | 202 km (125.5 mi) depth
| 51 km (32 mi) distance
| USGS | Details
31 Jul 2017 01:53 UTC
| M 4.5 | 172.6 km (107.2 mi) depth
| 179 km (111 mi) distance
| USGS | Details
28 Jul 2017 06:56 UTC
| M 5.0 | 167 km (103.8 mi) depth
| 63 km (39 mi) distance
| EMSC | Details
04 Jul 2017 06:24 UTC
| M 5.2 | 10 km (6.2 mi) depth
| 190 km (118 mi) distance
| GFZ | Details
29 Jun 2017 02:24 UTC
| M 5.0 | 146 km (90.7 mi) depth
| 125 km (78 mi) distance
| GFZ | Details
17 Jun 2017 16:37 UTC
| M 5.0 | 195 km (121.2 mi) depth
| 59 km (37 mi) distance
| GFZ | Details
11 Jun 2017 11:48 UTC
| M 4.9 | 219 km (136.1 mi) depth
| 116 km (72 mi) distance
| GFZ | Details
30 May 2017 03:20 UTC
| M 5.0 | 55 km (34.2 mi) depth
| 108 km (67 mi) distance
| GeoAu | Details
26 May 2017 22:32 UTC
| M 5.2 | 102 km (63.4 mi) depth
| 134 km (83 mi) distance
| GFZ | Details
12 May 2017 14:14 UTC
| M 4.5 | 203 km (126.1 mi) depth
| 173 km (107 mi) distance
| GFZ | Details
10 May 2017 00:10 UTC
| M 4.9 | 128 km (79.5 mi) depth
| 72 km (44 mi) distance
| GFZ | Details
09 May 2017 13:52 UTC
| M 6.7 | 196 km (121.8 mi) depth
| 159 km (99 mi) distance
| GFZ | Strong mag. 6.7 earthquake - Coral Sea, 54 km northeast of Port-Olry, Sanma Province, Vanuatu, on Tuesday, 9 May 2017 at 13:52 (GMT)
02 May 2017 00:51 UTC
| M 4.7 | 149 km (92.6 mi) depth
| 141 km (88 mi) distance
| EMSC | Details
25 Apr 2017 11:36 UTC
| M 4.8 | 117.9 km (73.3 mi) depth
| 128 km (79 mi) distance
| USGS | Details
01 Apr 2017 04:01 UTC
| M 4.9 | 35.3 km (21.9 mi) depth
| 73 km (46 mi) distance
| USGS | Details
28 Mar 2017 21:06 UTC
| M 4.8 | 157 km (97.6 mi) depth
| 63 km (39 mi) distance
| EMSC | Details
07 Mar 2017 23:38 UTC
| M 5.5 | 10 km (6.2 mi) depth
| 120 km (74 mi) distance
| GFZ | Details
25 Feb 2017 23:08 UTC
| M 4.8 | 171 km (106.3 mi) depth
| 133 km (83 mi) distance
| GFZ | Details
22 Feb 2017 23:46 UTC
| M 4.9 | 193.3 km (120.1 mi) depth
| 68 km (43 mi) distance
| USGS | Details
04 Feb 2017 18:31 UTC
| M 4.9 | 165.3 km (102.7 mi) depth
| 76 km (47 mi) distance
| USGS | Details
30 Jan 2017 23:35 UTC
| M 5.8 | 99 km (61.5 mi) depth
| 143 km (89 mi) distance
| GFZ | Details
04 Jan 2017 01:06 UTC
| M 5.4 | 10 km (6.2 mi) depth
| 187 km (116 mi) distance
| GFZ | Details
02 Jan 2017 14:19 UTC
| M 4.6 | 47 km (29.2 mi) depth
| 17 km (10 mi) distance
| EMSC | Details
20 Dec 2016 04:20 UTC
| M 5.1 | 107.2 km (66.6 mi) depth
| 117 km (73 mi) distance
| USGS | Details
14 Dec 2016 19:21 UTC
| M 4.4 | 118 km (73.3 mi) depth
| 177 km (110 mi) distance
| EMSC | Details
06 Dec 2016 01:21 UTC
| M 5.3 | 143 km (88.9 mi) depth
| 129 km (80 mi) distance
| GFZ | Details
30 Nov 2016 23:33 UTC
| M 4.7 | 122 km (75.8 mi) depth
| 69 km (43 mi) distance
| EMSC | Details
16 Nov 2016 11:50 UTC
| M 4.8 | 115 km (71.5 mi) depth
| 105 km (65 mi) distance
| GFZ | Details
13 Nov 2016 22:00 UTC
| M 5.0 | 10 km (6.2 mi) depth
| 31 km (19 mi) distance
| GFZ | Details
09 Nov 2016 08:15 UTC
| M 5.4 | 125 km (77.7 mi) depth
| 146 km (91 mi) distance
| GFZ | Details
30 Oct 2016 13:08 UTC
| M 4.5 | 226 km (140.4 mi) depth
| 168 km (104 mi) distance
| EMSC | Details
29 Oct 2016 03:21 UTC
| M 5.0 | 10 km (6.2 mi) depth
| 170 km (106 mi) distance
| GFZ | Details
16 Oct 2016 10:39 UTC
| M 4.7 | 192.6 km (119.7 mi) depth
| 165 km (102 mi) distance
| USGS | Details
22 Sep 2016 11:05 UTC
| M 5.1 | 154 km (95.7 mi) depth
| 68 km (42 mi) distance
| EMSC | Details
17 Sep 2016 02:31 UTC
| M 5.8 | 10 km (6.2 mi) depth
| 19 km (12 mi) distance
| GFZ | Details
31 Aug 2016 05:37 UTC
| M 5.0 | 100 km (62.1 mi) depth
| 102 km (63 mi) distance
| EMSC | Details
28 Aug 2016 13:32 UTC
| M 4.3 | 230 km (142.9 mi) depth
| 169 km (105 mi) distance
| EMSC | Details
21 Aug 2016 02:30 UTC
| M 5.2 | 101 km (62.8 mi) depth
| 146 km (91 mi) distance
| GFZ | Details
26 Jul 2016 08:04 UTC
| M 5.7 | 36 km (22.4 mi) depth
| 18 km (11 mi) distance
| GFZ | Details
17 Jul 2016 23:07 UTC
| M 5.2 | 142 km (88.2 mi) depth
| 140 km (87 mi) distance
| EMSC | Details
16 Jul 2016 16:43 UTC
| M 4.9 | 30 km (18.6 mi) depth
| 104 km (65 mi) distance
| EMSC | Details
10 Jul 2016 16:32 UTC
| M 5.6 | 166 km (103.1 mi) depth
| 164 km (102 mi) distance
| GFZ | Details
10 Jul 2016 01:00 UTC
| M 5.0 | 10 km (6.2 mi) depth
| 14 km (8 mi) distance
| GFZ | Details
04 Jul 2016 04:38 UTC
| M 4.8 | 157 km (97.6 mi) depth
| 144 km (90 mi) distance
| EMSC | Details
30 Jun 2016 11:30 UTC
| M 5.9 | 20 km (12.4 mi) depth
| 11 km (7 mi) distance
| GFZ | Details
28 Jun 2016 13:29 UTC
| M 4.7 | 38.8 km (24.1 mi) depth
| 182 km (113 mi) distance
| USGS | Details
20 Jun 2016 23:27 UTC
| M 4.7 | 223 km (138.6 mi) depth
| 164 km (102 mi) distance
| EMSC | Details
20 Jun 2016 22:09 UTC
| M 5.1 | 192 km (119.3 mi) depth
| 79 km (49 mi) distance
| GeoAu | Details
20 Jun 2016 13:41 UTC
| M 5.2 | 10 km (6.2 mi) depth
| 36 km (23 mi) distance
| GFZ | Details
18 Jun 2016 22:34 UTC
| M 4.7 | 218 km (135.5 mi) depth
| 74 km (46 mi) distance
| GFZ | Details
29 May 2016 00:43 UTC
| M 4.9 | 10 km (6.2 mi) depth
| 82 km (51 mi) distance
| EMSC | Details
27 May 2016 23:22 UTC
| M 4.4 | 176.4 km (109.6 mi) depth
| 141 km (88 mi) distance
| USGS | Details
27 May 2016 05:31 UTC
| M 5.0 | 30 km (18.6 mi) depth
| 127 km (79 mi) distance
| EMSC | Details
23 May 2016 21:40 UTC
| M 4.7 | 134 km (83.3 mi) depth
| 122 km (76 mi) distance
| EMSC | Details
17 May 2016 21:59 UTC
| M 4.6 | 146 km (90.7 mi) depth
| 144 km (89 mi) distance
| EMSC | Details
17 May 2016 20:36 UTC
| M 4.9 | 31.7 km (19.7 mi) depth
| 43 km (27 mi) distance
| USGS | Details
16 May 2016 03:13 UTC
| M 4.7 | 49 km (30.4 mi) depth
| 178 km (111 mi) distance
| EMSC | Details
15 May 2016 06:24 UTC
| M 4.7 | 39.3 km (24.4 mi) depth
| 188 km (117 mi) distance
| USGS | Details
04 May 2016 14:36 UTC
| M 5.7 | 35 km (21.7 mi) depth
| 142 km (88 mi) distance
| GFZ | Details
03 May 2016 23:06 UTC
| M 5.0 | 10 km (6.2 mi) depth
| 23 km (14 mi) distance
| GFZ | Details
02 May 2016 14:42 UTC
| M 4.3 | 35 km (21.7 mi) depth
| 35 km (22 mi) distance
| EMSC | Details
30 Apr 2016 20:30 UTC
| M 5.1 | 10 km (6.2 mi) depth
| 37 km (23 mi) distance
| GFZ | Details
30 Apr 2016 09:26 UTC
| M 5.0 | 10 km (6.2 mi) depth
| 26 km (16 mi) distance
| GFZ | Details
30 Apr 2016 08:45 UTC
| M 4.7 | 7 km (4.3 mi) depth
| 34 km (21 mi) distance
| EMSC | Details
30 Apr 2016 08:40 UTC
| M 5.1 | 4 km (2.5 mi) depth
| 30 km (19 mi) distance
| GeoAu | Details
30 Apr 2016 08:35 UTC
| M 5.7 | 10 km (6.2 mi) depth
| 34 km (21 mi) distance
| GFZ | Details
30 Apr 2016 04:38 UTC
| M 5.0 | 10 km (6.2 mi) depth
| 45 km (28 mi) distance
| GFZ | Details
29 Apr 2016 22:50 UTC
| M 4.8 | 19 km (11.8 mi) depth
| 51 km (32 mi) distance
| EMSC | Details
29 Apr 2016 22:08 UTC
| M 5.1 | 10 km (6.2 mi) depth
| 36 km (22 mi) distance
| GFZ | Details
29 Apr 2016 01:01 UTC
| M 5.0 | 20 km (12.4 mi) depth
| 28 km (17 mi) distance
| EMSC | Details
29 Apr 2016 00:52 UTC
| M 4.9 | 20 km (12.4 mi) depth
| 51 km (31 mi) distance
| EMSC | Details
Earlier earthquakes in the same area
Major magnitude. 7.0 earthquake - Coral Sea, 2.2 km northeast of Norsup, Malampa Province, Vanuatu, on Thursday, 28 April 2016 at 19:33 (GMT)
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