M4.8 earthquake — 64 km SSE of Lakatoro, Vanuatu
An magnitude 4.8 earthquake occurred 64 km SSE of Lakatoro, Vanuatu on Sep 17, 2026 at 06:32 UTC. The epicenter was at a depth of 37 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 | M4.8 |
|---|---|
| Depth | 36.7 km |
| Coordinates | -16.663, 167.557 |
| Time | Sep 17, 06:32 UTC |
| Location | 64 km SSE of Lakatoro, Vanuatu |
| USGS event ID | us7000thzs |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| M5.2 | 161 km | Sep 13, 07:19 UTC | 43 km ESE of Port-Olry, Vanuatu |
| M4.7 | 187 km | Sep 16, 09:41 UTC | 6 km WSW of Port-Olry, Vanuatu |
| M4.5 | 220 km | Sep 12, 15:56 UTC | 39 km NNE of Port-Olry, Vanuatu |
Earthquake activity in this area
Source: USGS earthquake catalog. Automated readings may be revised. Not for emergency use.