Vanuatu earthquakes

M6.9 earthquake 150 km SSE of Isangel, Vanuatu

A magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck 150 km SSE of Isangel, Vanuatu on Tue, Jan 21, 1964, 4:08 AM GMT+11 (17:08 UTC), 138 km (85 mi) below the surface.

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Map

Where this earthquake was located, with the others nearby. Select one for its page.

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The earthquake

Magnitude
6.9 (mw), strong
Local time
UTC
1964-01-20 17:08:37 UTC
Depth
137.5 km (85.4 mi), intermediate-depth
Epicenter
20.744° S, 169.957° E
Region
Vanuatu
Strongest shaking
VI, strong shaking
Tsunami flag
No
Status
Reviewed by a seismologist

Shaking

The USGS ShakeMap: shaking estimated from seismic stations and the quake’s size, on the Modified Mercalli intensity scale.

Strongest estimated
VI, strong shaking
Map
Automatic
USGS ShakeMap: estimated shaking intensity around the epicenter
Estimated shaking intensity. Map: USGS ShakeMap.

Did you feel it?

No one has reported feeling this quake to the USGS.

How well it is located

Reviewed by a seismologist.

Magnitude uncertainty
±0.30
Depth from
From location

Nearest places

Distance and direction from each place to the epicenter, with its forecast.

Nearby

Within 100 km, magnitude 2.5 and up: 0 in the 60 days after this one and 0 in the 30 days before it.

None recorded.

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Sources

From the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program and its partner networks, event iscgem871406 (also filed as atlas19640120170837). Read Tue, Sep 22, 2026, 7:09 AM UTC.