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Significant earthquake

This summarises a recorded earthquake only; it is not a warning or a prediction. Follow AFAD and the competent authorities for official statements and guidance.

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6.3

VANUATU

20 October 2026, 07:20:38 (+03) 2026-10-20 04:20:38 UTC

3 sources: EMSC, USGS, GFZ mw
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Magnitude
6.3 mw
Depth
10.0 km
Coordinates
-13.9692, 165.5566
Data consistency
84/100

Regional activity (100 km)

Last 24 hours
1
Last 7 days
2
Last 30 days
106

Approximate energy released

≈ 43 kt TNT

1.78e+14 J

Approximated with the Gutenberg–Richter relation (log E = 1.5 M + 4.8); depends on magnitude type. Gutenberg & Richter (1956).

Did you feel this earthquake?

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Community reports

Based on voluntary reports from users; not an instrumental measurement or official intensity. For official information follow AFAD and Kandilli Observatory announcements.

Impact information reported by sources

  • USGS Earthquake Hazards Program Tsunami flag: No

These values are automatic products of the respective agency, not an assessment by this platform. For tsunami warnings follow the Kandilli Observatory Regional Earthquake-Tsunami Monitoring Center and AFAD.

Nearby places

No records.

Nearby faults (50 km)

No mapped fault within 50 km.

Last year, within 100 km

106 earthquakes

By magnitude

  • M0 0
  • M1 0
  • M2 0
  • M3 0
  • M4 50
  • M5 48
  • M6 7
  • M7 1
  • M8+ 0

By depth

  • 0–10 km 0
  • 10–20 km 105
  • 20–40 km 1
  • 40–70 km 0
  • 70–150 km 0
  • 150+ km 0

Largest previous earthquakes within 100 km

Largest earthquakes in the platform catalogue and entries from historical catalogues (with citation).

Comparison with past records

…

No earlier earthquakes are recorded in this area.

  • Source:

Where does this earthquake come from?

Source comparison

Sources report different values.
Agency Magnitude Depth Time (UTC) Difference from master Original record
EMSC-CSEM Displayed
VANUATU
 6.3 mw 10.0 km 04:20:38.620 Δt 0 sn · 0 km · ΔM 0 Original record
USGS Earthquake Hazards Program
195 km NW of Port-Olry, Vanuatu
 6.6 Mi 10.0 km 04:20:37.000 Δt 1.62 sn · 20.21 km · ΔM +0.3 Original record
GFZ GEOFON
Vanuatu Islands
 6.3 Mw 10.0 km 04:20:39.080 Δt 0.46 sn · 2.4 km · ΔM 0 Original record

This value summarises agreement between sources; it is not a measure of scientific accuracy. Euro-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC-CSEM) — CC BY 4.0 U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Earthquake Hazards Program — Public domain (U.S. Government) GEOFON Program, GFZ Helmholtz Centre for Geosciences — CC BY 4.0

Revision history

  1. 20.10.2026 09:50:22 · EMSC · update

    depth: 5 → 10 latitude: -14.0085 → -13.9692 longitude: 165.4919 → 165.5566 time: 2026-10-20T04:20:38.350+00:00 → 2026-10-20T04:20:38.620+00:00

  2. 20.10.2026 09:50:22 · SISTEM · recompute

    depth: 5 → 10 latitude: -14.0085 → -13.9692 longitude: 165.4919 → 165.5566 time: 2026-10-20T04:20:38.350Z → 2026-10-20 04:20:38.620+00:00

  3. 20.10.2026 07:40:51 · GFZ · update

    magnitude: 6.4 → 6.3 magnitude type: M → Mw

  4. 20.10.2026 07:37:39 · EMSC · update

    depth: 10 → 5 latitude: -14.0278 → -14.0085 longitude: 165.4842 → 165.4919 time: 2026-10-20T04:20:38.444+00:00 → 2026-10-20T04:20:38.350+00:00

  5. 20.10.2026 07:37:39 · SISTEM · recompute

    depth: 10 → 5 latitude: -14.0278 → -14.0085 longitude: 165.4842 → 165.4919 time: 2026-10-20T04:20:38.444Z → 2026-10-20 04:20:38.350+00:00

  6. 20.10.2026 07:34:46 · GFZ · update

    latitude: -13.911 → -13.961 longitude: 165.639 → 165.536 magnitude: 6.2 → 6.4 time: 2026-10-20T04:20:38.620+00:00 → 2026-10-20T04:20:39.080+00:00 magnitude type: mb → M

  7. 20.10.2026 07:32:29 · EMSC · update

    depth: 35 → 10 latitude: -13.8478 → -14.0278 longitude: 165.6215 → 165.4842 magnitude: 6.2 → 6.3 time: 2026-10-20T04:20:41.280+00:00 → 2026-10-20T04:20:38.444+00:00 magnitude type: mb → mw

  8. 20.10.2026 07:32:29 · SISTEM · recompute

    depth: 35 → 10 latitude: -13.8478 → -14.0278 longitude: 165.6215 → 165.4842 magnitude: 6.2 → 6.3 time: 2026-10-20T04:20:41.280Z → 2026-10-20 04:20:38.444+00:00 magnitude type: mb → mw

  9. 20.10.2026 07:31:26 · EMSC · update

    latitude: -13.8387 → -13.8478 longitude: 165.6246 → 165.6215 time: 2026-10-20T04:20:41.220+00:00 → 2026-10-20T04:20:41.280+00:00

  10. 20.10.2026 07:31:26 · SISTEM · recompute

    latitude: -13.8387 → -13.8478 longitude: 165.6246 → 165.6215 time: 2026-10-20T04:20:41.220Z → 2026-10-20 04:20:41.280+00:00

  11. 20.10.2026 07:30:46 · SISTEM · recompute

    source count: 2 → 3 confirming sources: emsc,gfz → emsc,usgs,gfz

  12. 20.10.2026 07:30:27 · EMSC · update

    depth: 10 → 35 latitude: -13.911 → -13.8387 longitude: 165.639 → 165.6246 time: 2026-10-20T04:20:38.620+00:00 → 2026-10-20T04:20:41.220+00:00

  13. 20.10.2026 07:30:27 · SISTEM · recompute

    depth: 10 → 35 latitude: -13.911 → -13.8387 longitude: 165.639 → 165.6246 time: 2026-10-20T04:20:38.620Z → 2026-10-20 04:20:41.220+00:00

  14. 20.10.2026 07:28:39 · SISTEM · recompute

    source count: 1 → 2 confirming sources: emsc → emsc,gfz

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