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List of earthquakes in Vanuatu#2011

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Earthquakes in Vanuatu are frequent and are sometimes accompanied by tsunami, though these events are not often destructive. The archipelago, which was formerly known as New Hebrides, lies atop a complex and active plate boundary in the southwestern Pacific Ocean.

Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are highly vulnerable to earthquake shaking, though some resistant structures exist. Most buildings in Vanuatu are constructed with lumber.{{Cite web|title=PAGER|url=https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/usd000h551/pager|publisher=United States Geological Survey}}

Tectonic setting

The primary tectonic feature of the {{convert|1200|km|abbr=on}} island chain is the New Hebrides Trench, the convergent boundary between the Australian and Pacific plates. Along the Wadati–Benioff zone, earthquake activity has been observed as shallow, intermediate, and deep-focus events at depths of up to {{convert|700|km|abbr=on}}. Volcanic activity is also present along this north-northwest trending and northeast-dipping subduction zone.{{citation|title=Active Faults of the World|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aQUgAwAAQBAJ|last=Yeats|first=R.|date=2012|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0521190855|page=478}}

While much of the island arc experiences intermediate-depth earthquakes along a Wadati–Benioff zone that dips steeply at 70°, the area adjacent to the d'Entrecasteaux Ridge does not. There is a corresponding gap in seismicity that occurs below {{convert|50|km|abbr=on}} where it enters the subduction zone from the west. According to the NUVEL-1 global relative plate motion model, convergence is occurring at roughly {{convert|8|cm|abbr=on}} per year. The uncertainty, which also affects the Tonga arc, is due to the influence of spreading at the North Fiji Basin. Of the 58 M7 or greater events that occurred between 1909 and 2001, few were studied.{{cite book|title=Deep Earthquakes|first=C.|last=Frolich|date=2006|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0805836523|pages=399–401}}

Earthquakes

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align: center;"
Date

!Region

!{{m|Mag}}

!MMI

!Deaths

!Injuries

!Comments

!Ref

2024-12-17

|Efate

|7.3 {{M|w|link=y}}

|IX

|14

|265

|Severe damage

|{{Cite web|title=M 7.3 – 30 km W of Port-Vila, Vanuatu|url=https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/at00som7n2/executive|date=17 December 2024|publisher=United States Geological Survey}}

2023-01-08

|Espiritu Santo

|7.0 {{M|w|link=y}}

|VII

|

|

|Major damage

|{{Cite web|title=M 7.0 – 23 km WNW of Port-Olry, Vanuatu|url=https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/at00ro62ul/executive|date=8 January 2023|publisher=United States Geological Survey}}{{Cite web|title=Se registra terremoto de magnitud 7.0 en Vanuatu; no se reportaron víctimas|trans-title=7.0 magnitude earthquake recorded in Vanuatu; no casualties were reported|url=https://elmanana.com.mx/global/2023/1/8/se-registra-terremoto-de-magnitud-70-en-vanuatu-no-se-reportaron-victimas-90375.html|language=es|work=El Mañana|date=8 January 2023 }}

2018-12-16

|Ambrym

|5.5 {{M|w|link=y}}

|VI

|

|

|Several houses destroyed

|{{Cite web|url=https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us2000iu3c/executive|title=M 5.5 – 82 km ESE of Lakatoro, Vanuatu|publisher=United States Geological Survey|access-date=2018-12-27}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/378530/vanuatu-eruption-sparks-series-of-quakes|title=Vanuatu eruption sparks series of quakes|date=2018-12-18|publisher=Radio New Zealand |language=en-nz|access-date=2018-12-27}}

2018-08-21

|Pentecost

|6.5 {{M|w|link=y}}

|VII

|

|1

|Minor damage

|{{Cite web|url=https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/us1000gf2g#executive|title=M 6.5 – 78 km E of Lakatoro, Vanuatu|publisher=United States Geological Survey|access-date=2018-08-21}}

2010-12-25

|Tafea

|7.3 {{M|w|link=y}}

|V

|

|4

|Minor damage/tsunami

|{{Cite web|title=M 7.3 – 141 km W of Isangel, Vanuatu|url=https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/usp000hrw0/executive|publisher=United States Geological Survey|date=25 December 2010}}{{Cite web|publisher=National Geophysical Data Center|title=Tsunami Event: Vanuatu|url=https://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/hazel/view/hazards/tsunami/event-more-info/5403}}

2010-08-10

|Shefa

|7.3 {{M|w|link=y}}

|VII

|

|

|Buildings damaged/Power outages

|{{Cite web|url=https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/usp000hhuc/executive|title=M 7.3 – 33 km NW of Port-Vila, Vanuatu|publisher=United States Geological Survey|access-date=2022-04-05}}{{Cite web|url=http://amp.smh.com.au/world/earthquake-panics-vanuatu-residents-20100810-11xq3.html|title=Earthquake panics Vanuatu residents|date=2010-08-04|website=The Sydney Morning Herald|language=en-AU|access-date=2022-04-05}}

2009-10-07Torba7.4 {{M|w|link=y}}VIII
2009-10-07Torba7.8 {{M|w|link=y}}VIITsunami
2009-10-07Torba7.7 {{M|w|link=y}}IX
2009-06-03Efate6.3 {{M|w|link=y}}VI4Landslides{{cite web|title=M6.3 – Vanuatu|url=https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/usp000gxsf#general_summary|publisher=United States Geological Survey}}
2009-05-29Efate5.7 {{M|w|link=y}}VI10Landslides / damage{{cite web|title=M5.7 – Vanuatu|url=https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/usp000gxmz#general_summary|publisher=United States Geological Survey}}
2007-08-01

|Sanma

|7.2 {{M|w|link=y}}

|VII

|

|1

|Many buildings damaged

|{{Cite web|url=https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/usp000fhm9/executive|title=M 7.2 – 56 km E of Luganville, Vanuatu|publisher=United States Geological Survey|access-date=2022-03-02}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/171700/powerful-earthquake-damages-luganville-on-vanuatu-island-of-santo|title=Powerful earthquake damages Luganville on Vanuatu island of Santo|date=2007-08-02|publisher=Radio New Zealand |language=en-nz|access-date=2022-03-01|quote=A police officer was injured during the 7.2 magnitude quake as he tried to leave police headquarters and many residents fled their homes when it struck at about 4am local time.}}

2002-11-28Torba5.9 {{M|w|link=y}}VII3Landslides / damage{{cite web|title=M5.9 – Vanuatu|url=https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/usp000bjhn#general_summary|publisher=United States Geological Survey}}
2002-01-03Efate7.2 {{M|w|link=y}}XSeveralRockslides / damage{{cite web|title=M7.2 – Vanuatu|url=https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/usp000avpw#general_summary|publisher=United States Geological Survey}}
1999-11-26Ambrym7.4 {{M|w|link=y}}VIII5–1040–100Landslides / damage / five killed by tsunami
1999-08-22

| Ambrym

| 6.6 {{M|w|link=y}}

| IX{{Cite web|title=PAGER|url=https://earthquake.usgs.gov/product/losspager/usd000j5jt/us/1679930447709/onepager.pdf|date=2 March 2023|access-date=3 April 2023|publisher=United States Geological Survey}}

|

|

| Foreshock / landslides

|{{cite web|title=M6.6 – Vanuatu|url=https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/usp0009dg4#general_summary|publisher=United States Geological Survey|accessdate=September 18, 2016}}

1997-04-21Santa Cruz Islands7.7 {{M|w|link=y}}VIISome damage / tsunami{{cite web|title=M7.7 – Santa Cruz Islands|url=https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/usp00080wt#general_summary|publisher=United States Geological Survey}}
1992-10-11

| Tanna

| 7.4 {{M|w|link=y}}

| VIII

|

|

|

|{{Cite web|title=M 7.4 – 47 km NW of Isangel, Vanuatu|url=https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/usp0005f79/executive|publisher=United States Geological Survey}}

1990-07-27Espiritu Santo7.2 {{M|b|link=y}}VII2Moderate damage{{cite web|title=M7.2 – Vanuatu|url=https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/usp0004cm6/executive|publisher=United States Geological Survey}}
1973-12-29Espiritu Santo7.2 {{M|s|link=y}}VIIIModerate damage
1973-12-29Espiritu Santo7.5 {{M|s|link=y}}VIIIModerate damage{{harvnb|NGDC|1972}}
1971-10-27Tutuba6.8 {{M|w|link=y}}VI1SomeSevere damage{{cite web|title=M6.8 – Vanuatu|url=https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/iscgem779689/|publisher=United States Geological Survey}}
1965-08-11Malakula7.6 {{M|w|link=y}}IXModerate damage / tsunami{{harvnb|NGDC|1972}}
1910-11-10Malakula7.3 {{M|w|link=y}}VIModerate damage / tsunami{{harvnb|NGDC|1972}}
1909-07-08Moderate damage / tsunami{{harvnb|NGDC|1972}}
class="sortbottom"

| colspan="8" style="text-align: center;" |Note: The inclusion criteria for adding events are based on WikiProject Earthquakes' notability guideline that was developed for stand alone articles. The principles described also apply to lists. In summary, only damaging, injurious, or deadly events should be recorded.

See also

References

{{reflist}}

Sources

{{refbegin}}

  • {{citation|title=Significant Earthquake Database|url=https://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/nndc/struts/form?t=101650&s=1&d=1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060929000601/http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/nndc/struts/form?t=101650&s=1&d=1|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 29, 2006|author=NGDC| year=1972 |publisher=National Geophysical Data Center, NOAA|doi=10.7289/V5TD9V7K}}

{{refend}}

Further reading

  • {{cite journal | last1=Chin | first1=Shao-Jinn | last2=Sutherland | first2=Rupert | last3=Savage | first3=Martha K. | last4=Collot | first4=Julien | last5=Monge | first5=Olivier | last6=Townend | first6=John | title=Stress State and Earthquake Triggering on the Outer Rise of the Southern Vanuatu Subduction Zone, Southern New Caledonia | journal=Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America | date=2023 | volume=114 | issue=2 | pages=794–805 | issn=0037-1106 | doi=10.1785/0120230107| s2cid=263636149 }}

External links

  • [http://www.ucl.ac.uk/drrconference/posters/ACartwirght-Taylor.pdf Predicting Earthquake Hazard in Vanuatu]
  • [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUIPv1vUvlc Solomon & Vanuatu Islands—Earthquakes & Tectonic Setting] – IRIS Consortium

{{Oceania topic|List of earthquakes in}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:List of earthquakes in Vanuatu}}

Vanuatu

Earthquakes