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M5.0 Depth: 81.0 km

M5.0 Earthquake near Vanuatu Islands

UTC time: 2026-03-17 23:27:56 UTC Local time: —
M5.0 earthquake near Vanuatu Islands on Mar 17, 2026 — map of epicenter and shaking intensity | QuakeMap24
M5.0 Earthquake near Vanuatu Islands · 2026-03-17 23:27:56 UTC

About this earthquake

On March 17, 2026 at 23:27 UTC, a magnitude M5.0 earthquake occurred near Vanuatu Islands. The earthquake originated at an intermediate depth of about 81 km. Events of this size can cause damage near the epicenter.

The data is provided by GFZ and cross-checked across seismological networks.

Details

Magnitude
M5.0
Depth
81.0 km
UTC time
2026-03-17 23:27:56 UTC
Local time
—
Country
—
Source
gfz
Coordinates
-14.84000, 167.23000
Temperature
29.0°C

Map

Depth profile

Depth profile Depth: 81 km (Intermediate) Surface Shallow Intermediate Deep 0 km 70 km 300 km 700 km 81 km
Intermediate
81 km
Why depth matters

Intermediate-depth quakes are felt across a wider area but usually cause less surface damage.

Depth classes per USGS

Nearby population centers

Distances are straight-line distances from the epicenter. Population data: GeoNames.

PlaceDistanceDirectionPopulation
Port Vila342.2 kmS35'901

GeoNames · CC BY 4.0

Volcanoes nearby

  • Gaua
    Distance: 69 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 729 m ·Last eruption: 2022 ·Vanuatu
  • Ambae
    Distance: 89 km ·Shield ·Elevation: 1'496 m ·Last eruption: 2026 ·Vanuatu
  • Suretamatai
    Distance: 118 km ·Complex ·Elevation: 921 m ·Last eruption: 1966 ·Vanuatu
  • Motlav
    Distance: 138 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 411 m ·Vanuatu
  • Ambrym
    Distance: 183 km ·Shield(pyroclastic) ·Elevation: 1'334 m ·Last eruption: 2024 ·Vanuatu
  • Lopevi
    Distance: 221 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 1'413 m ·Last eruption: 2007 ·Vanuatu

Subsequent earthquakes nearby

Events recorded after this earthquake within 150 km. They are not automatically classified as aftershocks.

First 6 hours0
First 24 hours0
First 72 hours0
Strongest subsequent eventM7.3
M5.82026-03-21 03:20:58 UTC143.1 kmVanuatu Islands M5.72026-03-21 03:21:00 UTC133.9 km51 km W of Norsup, Vanuatu M4.82026-03-21 03:21:02 UTC44.2 km M4.52026-03-21 04:15:27 UTC134.9 kmVANUATU M5.02026-03-22 17:07:16 UTC44.2 km M6.52026-03-30 08:43:51 UTC55.8 km M7.02026-03-30 08:44:07 UTC47.7 kmVanuatu Islands M7.32026-03-30 08:44:08 UTC54.1 km###.# km ( ###.# mi) WSW (az= 251.1) from Quartzsite, AZ M7.32026-03-30 08:44:08 UTC55.8 kmVanuatu Islands M7.32026-03-30 08:44:08 UTC58.8 kmVanuatu Islands M7.22026-03-30 08:44:09 UTC63.0 km27 km ENE of Luganville, Vanuatu M7.32026-03-30 08:44:10 UTC50.6 kmVANUATU

Historical context nearby

Comparison with recorded earthquakes before this event within 150 km.

Magnitude rank#39
Earlier events M≥494
Earlier events M≥545
Compared since2025-01-04

The QuakeMap24 comparison dataset begins on 2024-03-23. Earlier earthquakes may not be included.

Strongest earlier events

M6.42026-02-14 02:27:37 UTC67.8 kmSanma M6.42026-02-14 02:27:37 UTC67.9 kmSanma M5.92025-05-28 08:57:48 UTC63.9 km52 km SW of Sola, Vanuatu M5.92025-05-28 08:57:48 UTC69.8 kmVanuatu Islands M5.92025-05-28 08:57:47 UTC70.7 kmVANUATU

Stats (last 24h)

Global (24h)
734
Country (24h)
—
—
Current earthquakes in
Magnitude Place Local time
No recent events available.

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