July 13, 1994 Earthquake: Vanuatu Islands
A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck Vanuatu Islands on July 13, 1994 at 02:35:56 UTC, 33 km below the surface. It caused a tsunami.
Map
Where it struck, with the other significant earthquakes within 200 km. Circles are sized and colored by magnitude; select one for its page.
The earthquake
- Date
- July 13, 1994
- Time
- 02:35:56 UTC
- Place
- Vanuatu Islands
- Magnitude
- 7.2 (Mw)
- Focal depth
- 33 km (21 mi)
- Intensity
- 6 on the Modified Mercalli scale
- Tsunami
- Yes: the tsunami it caused
- Epicenter
- 16.620° S, 167.518° E
- Country
- Vanuatu
The toll
The record gives no deaths, injuries or damage for this earthquake.
What the record says
NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.
Felt (VI) at Port-Vila and (V) on Malakula. Also felt on Ambrym, Aoba, Efate, Epi, Erromango, Espiritu Santo, Maewo and Pentecost. Complex event observed on broadband displacement seismograms. (reference #13456)
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- December 17, 2024, Efate, Port Vila, Vanuatu Islands
- November 26, 1999, Pentecost, Vanuatu Islands
- October 27, 1971, Espiritu Santo, Port Vila, Vanuatu Islands
- November 19, 1933, Malekula, Vanuatu Islands
- April 28, 2016, Vanuatu Islands
- May 13, 1903, Vanuatu Islands
- February 19, 2015, Vanuatu Islands
- December 15, 2018, Ambrym Island, Vanuatu Islands
- August 11, 1965, Vanuatu Islands
- May 29, 2009, Tongoa, Vanuatu Islands
- August 13, 1965, Vanuatu Islands
- January 2, 2002, Efate, Port Vila, Vanuatu Islands
- August 1, 2007, Luganville, Vanuatu Islands
- August 10, 2010, Vanuatu Islands
- March 19, 1905, Malo Pass, Vanuatu
More
Significant earthquakes of 1994The 1900sEvery quake the USGS located in 1994Recent earthquakes near hereThis day in weather history
Sources
Significant earthquakes from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Hazard Database, cited as NCEI/WDS, doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7. Public domain. Read 2026-09-24. NCEI earthquake 10780.