The red marker on the map is the epicenter of the earthquake, which was located in the Pacific Ocean between the islands of Esperitu Santo and Amba, Vanuatu, at a depth of 150 km, 39 km E-NE off Luganville, 48 km W off Longana and 278 km N-NW off Port Vila, the capital of Vanuatu.
|
Time in origin (GMT) |
Latitude, degree |
Longitude, degree |
Depth, km |
Stations number |
Ms/N |
mb/N |
I0 (calculated) |
GAP |
Center |
| 1
|
08:44:11.2
|
-15.38 |
167.48 |
150.0 |
55
|
6.6/52 |
7.0/31 |
5-5.5 |
84
|
GS RAS(Verified) Federal research center, Geophysical survey of Russian Academy of Sciences
|
|
2
|
08:44:04.8
|
-15.4 |
167.76 |
100.0 |
22
|
|
6.3/16 |
5-5.5 |
|
GS RAS(Preliminary) Federal research center, Geophysical survey of Russian Academy of Sciences
|
|
3
|
08:44:10.3
|
-15.29 |
167.31 |
126.0 |
688
|
Mw 7.3 |
6.9/203 |
|
11
|
CSEM European - Mediterranean seismological center
|
|
4
|
08:44:08.1
|
-15.3 |
167.4 |
115.8 |
82
|
Mw 7.3/85 |
6.8/121 |
|
36
|
NEIC National Earthquakes Information Center of US Geological Service
|
Fig. 1 presents fragments of records obtained from digital stations Monsavu (∆ 10.4º), Port Moresby (∆ 20.7º), Stephens Creek (∆ 28.7º), Tennant Creek (∆ 31.9º), Kunigami (∆ 56.7º). Fig. 2 presents fragments of records obtained from digital stations Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk (∆ 65.9º), Vladivostok (∆ 66.7º), Petropavlovsk (∆ 68.5º), Magadan (∆ 75.9º), Yakutsk (∆ 82.7º).
Image 1
Image 2
GS RAS registered two aftershocks with M>=4.9 within two days and two hours after the main shock.
| N |
Time in origin (GMT) |
Latitude, degree |
Longitude, degree |
Depth, km |
Stations number |
Ms/N |
mb/N |
I0 (calculated) |
Region |
| 20261460
|
30/03/2026 19:50:28.0.0 |
-14.81 |
167.42 |
100.0 |
31 |
|
4.9/14 |
|
Vanuatu Islands
|
| 20261468
|
31/03/2026 10:03:46.0.0 |
-16.09 |
167.55 |
65.0 |
13 |
|
5.0/10 |
2.5-3 |
Vanuatu Islands
|
Focal mechanism solution of the origin was calculated at the GS RAS with signs of initial arrivals of P waves at 99 stations, including 79 stations which registered compression waves (plus signs), and 20 stations which registered tensile waves (minus signs). The stations are located in the interval of epicentral distances 0.4-101.1º and in azimuth sector Az=4-359º. Focal mechanism solution in stereographic projection on the lower hemisphere and elements of the mechanism are presented in the table. The table also contains focal mechanism solutions obtained at the USGS NEIC with WW-phase Moment Tensor (Mww) technique and in Lamont-Dohert Earth Observatory of Columbia University, USA (LDEO GCMT) with СМТ (Centroid moment tensor) technique. Solutions from different centers are close. The earthquake was caused by predominantly west-oriented compression stresses (AZ=270-275º). One nodal plane NP1 strikes N-NW (STK=333-348º), another plane NP2 strikes S-SW (STK=192-198º). NP1 is dipping more horizontally (DP=35º) if compared with NP2 (DP=59-64º). The type of motion along NP1 – reverse fault with left lateral strike-slip component, along NP2 – reverse fault. The seismic moment of the earthquake was obtained at the GS RAS from the spectra of longitudinal waves registered at the station "Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk" (∆=65.9º), it makes Mo=8.676*10**19 N*m, Mw=7.3. Seismic moment according to USGS NEIC data makes Mo=1.186*10**20 N*m, Mww=7.32. According to LDEO GCMT it makes Mo=1.16*10**20 N*m, Mw=7.3.
| Axes of main strengths |
Nodal planes |
Center |
|
| T |
P |
N |
NP1 |
NP2 |
PI: 71
Azm: 146
|
PI: 12
Azm: 275
|
PI: 14
Azm: 9
|
Stk: 348
Dp: 35
Slip: 65
|
Stk: 198
Dp: 59
Slip: 106
|
GS RAS Federal research center, Geophysical survey of Russian Academy of Sciences
|
|
PI: 63
Azm: 147
|
PI: 16
Azm: 271
|
PI: 21
Azm: 7
|
Stk: 333
Dp: 35
Slip: 51
|
Stk: 198
Dp: 64
Slip: 114
|
NEIC National Earthquakes Information Center of US Geological Service
|
|
PI: 70
Azm: 140
|
PI: 13
Azm: 270
|
PI: 15
Azm: 3
|
Stk: 341
Dp: 35
Slip: 64
|
Stk: 192
Dp: 59
Slip: 107
|
GCMT Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory Global CMT Columbia University, USA
|
|