M 5.0 Moderate Earthquake Strikes Near Lakatoro, Vanuatu

What Happened

A moderate earthquake with a magnitude of 5.0 (mb) was recorded on March 16, 2026, at 03:12:34 UTC. The seismic event occurred at a depth of 186.8 km, according to data from the USGS.

Location Details

The epicenter was located at coordinates 16.184°S, 167.8834°E, approximately 50 km east of Lakatoro, Vanuatu. The depth of 186.8 km classifies this as a deep earthquake. Deep earthquakes (those occurring at depths greater than 70 km) are typically felt over a wider geographic area but generally cause less damage at the surface than shallow events.

Impact Assessment

There are currently no felt reports associated with this event. No tsunami advisory, watch, or warning has been issued (tsunami: 0). The USGS has not assigned a specific alert level color to this routine seismic event.

What You Should Know

Moderate earthquakes between M 5.0 and 5.9 can cause damage to poorly constructed buildings, though the significant depth of this event likely mitigated its impact. Residents in the region should remain aware of the possibility of aftershocks, although deep-focus earthquakes often produce fewer felt aftershocks than shallow ones.

Source

Link and attribution: USGS Event Page