Strong Earthquake Strikes Vanuatu
Posted by feww on January 29, 2010
Strong Earthquake Measuring Up to M6.3 Struck Vanuatu
The quake struck about 65 km (40 miles) NNE of Isangel, Tanna, Vanuatu, at a depth of about 85 km (52.8 miles) on Friday, January 29, 2010 at 09:20 UTC.
The mainshock was preceded by a foreshock measuring up to 5.4Mw which occurred about an hour earlier.
There was no tsunami generated by the quakes, and as of posting no damage or casualties report was made.
Traitor’s Head and Yasur Volcanoes
Today’s main event occurred near Erromango Basin about 45 km SE of Traitor’s Head volcano and some 56 Km NNE of Yasur volcano and may well prove significant in any forthcoming activity at the two volcanoes.
Earthquake Details
- Magnitude as reported by USGS: 6.0 [Max EQ magnitude estimated by FEWW: 6.3 Mw]
- Date-Time
- Friday, January 29, 2010 at 09:20:04 UTC
- Friday, January 29, 2010 at 08:20:04 PM at epicenter
- Location: 19.039°S, 169.540°E
- Depth: 85 km (52.8 miles)
- Region VANUATU
- Distances:
- 65 km (40 miles) NNE of Isangel, Tanna, Vanuatu
- 195 km (120 miles) SE of PORT-VILA, Efate, Vanuatu
- 325 km (200 miles) NNE of Tadine, Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia
- 1935 km (1200 miles) ENE of BRISBANE, Queensland, Australia
- Location Uncertainty: horizontal +/- 8.3 km (5.2 miles); depth +/- 6.7 km (4.2 miles)
- Source: USGS NEIC (WDCS-D)
- Event ID: us2010sbaw
Map of Vanuatu. Credit: M.Minderhoud. Click image to enlarge.
EQ Location Map. Source: USGS/EHP. Enhanced by FEWW. Click image to enlarge.
EQ Location Map. Source: USGS/EHP. Edited and Enhanced by FEWW. Click image to enlarge.
Seismic Hazard Map
Major Tectonic Boundaries: Subduction Zones -purple, Ridges -red and Transform Faults -green. Source: USGS/EHP.Click image to enlarge.
Historic Seismicity
Major Tectonic Boundaries: Subduction Zones -purple, Ridges -red and Transform Faults -green. Source: USGS/EHP. Click image to enlarge.
Related Links:
- Volcanoes
- FEWW Volcano Links
- Earthquakes [Main Index page]
Fire Earth 
feww said
GFZ Potsdam – Earthquake Bulletin
Region: Vanuatu Islands
Time: 2010-04-08 14:57:59.6 UTC
Magnitude: 5.2
Epicenter: 168.16°E 18.88°S
Depth: 10 km
Status: automatic
================================================
European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre
Magnitude: mb 5.2
Region: VANUATU
Date time: 2010-04-08 at 14:58:04.7 UTC
Location: 18.06S ; 168.16E
Depth: 139 km
Distances:
+ 1085 km W Suva (pop 199,455 ; local time 02:58 2010-04-09)
+ 39 km SW Vila (pop 35,901 ; local time 01:58 2010-04-09)