M5.0 earthquake — 84 km S of Isangel, Vanuatu
A moderate magnitude 5.0 earthquake occurred 84 km S of Isangel, Vanuatu on Aug 20, 2026 at 00:20 UTC. The epicenter was at a depth of 70 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 | M5.0 |
|---|---|
| Depth | 69.9 km |
| Coordinates | -20.299, 169.233 |
| Time | Aug 20, 00:20 UTC |
| Location | 84 km S of Isangel, Vanuatu |
| USGS event ID | us6000tm16 |
What this magnitude typically means
Moderate earthquakes are widely felt and can cause light damage close to the epicenter. The shaking you actually experience depends on how far away you are and what kind of ground you are on. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| M4.7 | 89 km | Sep 9, 20:21 UTC | 164 km SSE of Isangel, Vanuatu |
| M5.2 | 93 km | Sep 9, 17:01 UTC | 78 km ESE of Isangel, Vanuatu |
| M4.7 | 100 km | Sep 5, 21:06 UTC | 95 km ESE of Isangel, Vanuatu |
| M5.1 | 105 km | Sep 9, 17:18 UTC | 86 km ESE of Isangel, Vanuatu |
| M4.9 | 105 km | Sep 9, 19:15 UTC | 83 km ESE of Isangel, Vanuatu |
| M5.1 | 108 km | Sep 8, 00:52 UTC | 92 km ESE of Isangel, Vanuatu |
Earthquake activity in this area
Source: USGS earthquake catalog. Automated readings may be revised. Not for emergency use.