M5.1 earthquake Vanuatu

A magnitude 5.1 earthquake struck in Vanuatu on Fri, Jan 4, 1974, 8:56 AM GMT+12 (20:56 UTC), 15 km (9 mi) below the surface.

A larger quake followed: M5.3 62 km WNW of Port-Olry, Vanuatu. This one was a foreshock.

Map

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

No one has reported feeling this quake to the USGS.

Reviewed by a seismologist.

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

Within 100 km, magnitude 2.1 and up: 30 in the 60 days after this one and 43 in the 30 days before it.

From the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program and its partner networks, event usp00004t2. Read Tue, Sep 22, 2026, 10:07 AM UTC.