Back to map

M7.3 Earthquake near VANUATU

UTC time: 2026-03-30 08:44:10 UTC Local time: —
Earthquake newsQuakeMap24
Archive record · original publication time was not recorded Content updated:

Automatically generated from measurement data by QuakeMap24. Values may change after further analysis.

Magnitude
M7.3
Depth
126.0 km
Source
EMSC

VANUATU

Map

M7.3 Earthquake near VANUATU · 2026-03-30 — Map showing the location of the epicenter
M7.3 Earthquake near VANUATU · 2026-03-30 — Map showing the location of the epicenter

About this earthquake

On March 30, 2026 at 08:44 UTC, a magnitude M7.3 earthquake occurred near VANUATU. At around 126 km, the focal depth places this among intermediate-depth events. Earthquakes of this magnitude are major events and can cause severe damage over a wide area.

The event was recorded by EMSC.

Details

ID
87f2e0ae38ec756d35a3ab6051f1d6734cd8b9f4
Magnitude
M7.3
Depth
126.0 km
UTC time
2026-03-30 08:44:10 UTC
Local time
—
Country
—
Source
emsc
Coordinates
-15.28730, 167.31470
Temperature
29.7°C

Depth profile

Depth profile Depth: 126 km (Intermediate) Surface Shallow Intermediate Deep 0 km 70 km 300 km 700 km 126 km
Intermediate
126 km
Why depth matters

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

Depth classes per USGS

Felt reports

16felt reports at EMSC / LastQuake

Voluntary reports of feeling this earthquake. The count is not an intensity measurement and is not added to USGS DYFI reports.

Data updated: Apr 1, 2026, 7:23 PM UTC · Last checked: Sep 6, 2026, 12:18 PM UTC

Source: EMSC / LastQuake

Nearby population centers

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

PlaceDistanceDirectionPopulation
Port Vila292.4 kmS35'901

GeoNames · CC BY 4.0

Volcanoes nearby

  • Ambae Activity reported
    Distance: 57 km ·Shield ·Elevation: 1'496 m ·Last eruption: 2026 ·Vanuatu
  • Gaua
    Distance: 114 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 729 m ·Last eruption: 2022 ·Vanuatu
  • Ambrym Activity reported
    Distance: 137 km ·Shield(pyroclastic) ·Elevation: 1'334 m ·Last eruption: 2024 ·Vanuatu
  • Suretamatai
    Distance: 166 km ·Complex ·Elevation: 921 m ·Last eruption: 1966 ·Vanuatu
  • Lopevi
    Distance: 175 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 1'413 m ·Last eruption: 2007 ·Vanuatu
  • Motlav
    Distance: 184 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 411 m ·Vanuatu

Radius · 100 km

Nearby infrastructure

Up to 3 nearest sites per category

Airports

  • Santo Pekoa International AirportVanuatu · SON · NVSS
    26.2 kmStraight-line distance
  • Walaha AirportVanuatu · WLH · NVSW
    42.7 kmStraight-line distance
  • Longana AirportVanuatu · LOD · NVSG
    70.0 kmStraight-line distance

Source: OurAirports · Dataset date: 2026-10-05

This selection shows geographic proximity, not a hazard zone or confirmed impacts. Distances use recorded site coordinates. Sources & data dates

Subsequent earthquakes nearby

Events recorded after this earthquake within 500 km. They are not automatically classified as aftershocks.

First 6 hours6
First 24 hours7
First 72 hours12
Strongest subsequent eventM7.3
M6.92026-03-30 08:44:11 UTC8.6 kmEvent of magnitude 6.9, near of Nouméa (Monde) M7.22026-03-30 08:44:12 UTC20.3 kmVanuatu Islands [Sea: Vanuatu] M7.32026-03-30 08:44:13 UTC26.7 km48 km ENE of Luganville, Vanuatu M5.52026-03-30 09:02:26 UTC70.0 kmVanuatu Islands M5.02026-03-30 09:02:29 UTC36.4 kmVANUATU M5.02026-03-30 09:02:32 UTC24.0 km42 km ENE of Luganville, Vanuatu M4.82026-03-30 19:50:27 UTC66.5 kmSanma M5.02026-03-31 10:03:38 UTC139.5 kmMalampa M4.92026-03-31 10:03:48 UTC116.2 kmVANUATU M4.92026-03-31 10:03:49 UTC119.8 km33 km SE of Lakatoro, Vanuatu M5.22026-03-31 21:56:33 UTC351.1 kmSanta Cruz Islands Region M5.12026-03-31 21:56:33 UTC350.3 kmSANTA CRUZ ISLANDS REGION

No unambiguous area assignment

Context for this earthquake

This event has no unambiguous country assignment in the analysed catalogue. It is therefore not assigned to a regional profile.

Earthquake overview

Historical context nearby

Comparison with recorded earthquakes before this event within 500 km.

Magnitude rank#1
Earlier events M≥4368
Earlier events M≥5158
Compared since2025-01-01

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

Strongest earlier events

M7.32026-03-30 08:44:08 UTC9.2 km###.# km ( ###.# mi) WSW (az= 251.1) from Quartzsite, AZ M7.32026-03-30 08:44:08 UTC17.7 kmVanuatu Islands M7.32026-03-30 08:44:08 UTC17.9 kmVanuatu Islands M7.22026-03-30 08:44:09 UTC13.3 km27 km ENE of Luganville, Vanuatu M7.02026-03-30 08:44:07 UTC28.4 kmVanuatu Islands

Stats (last 24h)

Global (24h)
607
Country (24h)
—
—
Current earthquakes in
Magnitude Place Local time
No recent events available.

Share