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M5.8 Depth: 10.0 km

M5.8 Earthquake near Vanuatu Islands

UTC time: 2026-03-21 03:20:58 UTC Local time: —
M5.8 earthquake near Vanuatu Islands on Mar 21, 2026 — map of epicenter and shaking intensity | QuakeMap24
M5.8 Earthquake near Vanuatu Islands · 2026-03-21 03:20:58 UTC

About this earthquake

On March 21, 2026 at 03:20 UTC, a magnitude M5.8 earthquake occurred near Vanuatu Islands. With a focal depth of about 10 km, this was a shallow earthquake, whose shaking is usually felt more strongly at the surface. Earthquakes of this magnitude can damage poorly built structures.

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

Details

Magnitude
M5.8
Depth
10.0 km
UTC time
2026-03-21 03:20:58 UTC
Local time
—
Country
—
Source
gfz
Coordinates
-16.12000, 167.09000
Temperature
28.5°C

Map

Depth profile

Depth profile Depth: 10 km (Shallow) Surface Shallow Intermediate Deep 0 km 70 km 300 km 700 km 10 km
Shallow
10 km
Why depth matters

Shallow quakes release energy near the surface — shaking is felt more strongly and damage potential is higher.

Depth classes per USGS

Nearby population centers

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

PlaceDistanceDirectionPopulation
Port Vila221.9 kmSE35'901

GeoNames · CC BY 4.0

Volcanoes nearby

  • Ambrym
    Distance: 111 km ·Shield(pyroclastic) ·Elevation: 1'334 m ·Last eruption: 2024 ·Vanuatu
  • Ambae
    Distance: 114 km ·Shield ·Elevation: 1'496 m ·Last eruption: 2026 ·Vanuatu
  • Lopevi
    Distance: 141 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 1'413 m ·Last eruption: 2007 ·Vanuatu
  • East Epi
    Distance: 152 km ·Stratovolcano(es) ·Elevation: 833 m ·Last eruption: 2023 ·Vanuatu
  • Kuwae
    Distance: 172 km ·Caldera ·Elevation: -2 m ·Last eruption: 1974 ·Vanuatu
  • Nguna-Emau
    Distance: 200 km ·Stratovolcano(es) ·Elevation: 589 m ·Vanuatu

Subsequent earthquakes nearby

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

First 6 hours2
First 24 hours2
First 72 hours2
Strongest subsequent eventM7.3
M5.72026-03-21 03:21:00 UTC22.3 km51 km W of Norsup, Vanuatu M4.52026-03-21 04:15:27 UTC25.7 kmVANUATU M6.52026-03-30 08:43:51 UTC102.3 km M7.02026-03-30 08:44:07 UTC118.1 kmVanuatu Islands M7.32026-03-30 08:44:08 UTC97.2 km###.# km ( ###.# mi) WSW (az= 251.1) from Quartzsite, AZ M7.32026-03-30 08:44:08 UTC102.3 kmVanuatu Islands M7.32026-03-30 08:44:08 UTC99.3 kmVanuatu Islands M7.22026-03-30 08:44:09 UTC87.3 km27 km ENE of Luganville, Vanuatu M7.32026-03-30 08:44:10 UTC95.7 kmVANUATU M6.92026-03-30 08:44:11 UTC87.1 kmEvent of magnitude 6.9, near of Nouméa (Monde) M7.22026-03-30 08:44:12 UTC92.9 kmVanuatu Islands [Sea: Vanuatu] M7.32026-03-30 08:44:13 UTC102.9 km48 km ENE of Luganville, Vanuatu

Historical context nearby

Comparison with recorded earthquakes before this event within 150 km.

Magnitude rank#3
Earlier events M≥461
Earlier events M≥524
Compared since2025-01-01

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 UTC146.1 kmSanma M6.42026-02-14 02:27:37 UTC146.2 kmSanma M5.82025-10-07 22:36:22 UTC112.9 kmVanuatu Islands [Sea: Vanuatu] M5.82025-10-07 22:36:19 UTC119.9 kmVanuatu Islands M5.72025-10-07 22:36:21 UTC125.8 kmVANUATU

Stats (last 24h)

Global (24h)
734
Country (24h)
—
—
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