Vanuatu region
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A magnitude 5.4 earthquake struck near Vanuatu region on February 20, 2026 at 2:57 PM UTC. The event occurred at a depth of 608.731 km, releasing energy equivalent to 1.9 thousand tons of TNT. This is classified as a Moderate earthquake on the Richter magnitude scale. The hypocenter depth is categorized as Deep (> 300 km). Shaking from this event may have been felt within an estimated radius of 30 km from the epicenter.
Magnitude Scale
Depth Gauge
Impact Assessment
USGS PAGER alert level: Green. This estimates the overall impact based on population exposure and shaking intensity.
This earthquake is considered a notable seismic event based on its magnitude and observed effects.
This earthquake has been reviewed and confirmed by USGS seismologists.
Nearby Earthquakes
| Mag | Place | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 4.7 | Vanuatu region | 2 months, 2 weeks ago |
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. A magnitude 5.4 (Moderate) earthquake was recorded near Vanuatu region on February 20, 2026 at a depth of 608.7 km (deep (> 300 km)).
The earthquake had a magnitude of 5.4, classified as "Moderate" on the magnitude scale. It released energy equivalent to approximately 1.9 thousand tons of TNT.
The earthquake occurred at a depth of 608.7 km, which is considered deep (> 300 km). Deeper earthquakes are generally felt over wider areas but with less intensity.
The tsunami risk for this earthquake was assessed as none. Tsunami generation typically requires a magnitude 7.0+ shallow earthquake beneath or near the ocean floor.
Vanuatu has a seismic risk level of "Very High". This earthquake occurred within Vanuatu's territory and is part of the country's ongoing seismic activity record.
Earthquake depth (also called focal depth or hypocentral depth) is the vertical distance from the Earth's surface to where the earthquake rupture begins. Shallow earthquakes (0-70 km) tend to cause more surface damage, intermediate (70-300 km) are felt over wider areas, and deep earthquakes (300-700 km) rarely cause significant damage at the surface.
The Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) scale measures the effects of an earthquake at a specific location, ranging from I (not felt) to XII (total destruction). Unlike magnitude, which measures energy released at the source, MMI describes how strongly shaking is felt and what damage occurs at a given place.
The felt radius is the maximum distance from an earthquake's epicenter at which ground shaking can be perceived by people. It depends primarily on magnitude, depth, and local geology. A shallow M6.0 earthquake might be felt 300-500 km away, while a deep M6.0 might be felt over a wider but less intense area.
Earthquake energy is often expressed in TNT equivalents for intuitive comparison. A M5.0 earthquake releases energy equivalent to about 32,000 tons of TNT (a small nuclear weapon), while a M9.0 releases 32 billion tons of TNT — roughly 1,000 times more than the largest nuclear weapon ever detonated.
Tsunami generation requires three conditions: the earthquake must be large (typically M7.0+), shallow (under 100 km depth), and occur beneath or near the ocean floor with significant vertical displacement. Strike-slip faults rarely generate tsunamis because they move horizontally rather than vertically.