M4.6 earthquake — 46 km SSW of Sola, Vanuatu
An magnitude 4.6 earthquake occurred 46 km SSW of Sola, Vanuatu on Sep 15, 2026 at 05:53 UTC. The epicenter was at a depth of 10 km — a shallow earthquake. Shallow quakes concentrate their energy near the surface, so they tend to produce stronger shaking close to the epicenter.
Event data
| Magnitude | M4.6 |
|---|---|
| Depth | 10.0 km |
| Coordinates | -14.281, 167.432 |
| Time | Sep 15, 05:53 UTC |
| Location | 46 km SSW of Sola, Vanuatu |
| USGS event ID | us7000tiyl |
What this magnitude typically means
Light earthquakes are felt by most people nearby but rarely cause damage. Distance, depth, and soil type determine whether a quake feels sharp or barely noticeable. Tremor does not compute a single local shaking figure here, because how strong a quake feels at any address depends on distance, depth and local geology — open the interactive globe to explore the ShakeMap and estimated intensity.
Nearby recent earthquakes
| Magnitude | Distance | Time (UTC) | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| M4.6 | 162 km | Oct 5, 11:47 UTC | 21 km S of Luganville, Vanuatu |
| M5.1 | 284 km | Oct 1, 19:38 UTC | 171 km SE of Lata, Solomon Islands |
| M5.1 | 292 km | Oct 1, 20:00 UTC | 176 km SE of Lata, Solomon Islands |
Earthquake activity in this area
Source: USGS earthquake catalog. Automated readings may be revised. Not for emergency use.