Location:

Period:

15 Nov 2000 19:27:14 - 16 Nov 2000 17:06:31 (21 hours 39 minutes)

Volcanoes in 100km radius:

Gaua(83km)

Earthquakes:

M 7.0+:

M 7.0; 23 km WNW of Port-Olry, Vanuatu; (8 Jan 2023) (42km from the swarm center)
M 7.1; 31 km NE of Port-Olry, Vanuatu; (20 Oct 2015) (63km from the swarm center)
M 7.2; 100 km WNW of Sola, Vanuatu; (27 May 2010) (98km from the swarm center)
M 7.1; 16 km NE of Port-Olry, Vanuatu; (9 Jan 2001) (56km from the swarm center)
M 7.0; 29 km WNW of Luganville, Vanuatu; (4 Oct 2000) (95km from the swarm center)

13 swarms found nearby.

2008

PS20081107.1(131.2km)

7 Nov

4 hours

11 earthquakes

2009

PS20091007.1(53.0km)

7 Oct

3 days 11 hours

48 earthquakes

PS20091014.1(197.1km)

13 Oct

6 hours

5 earthquakes

2010

PS20100527.1(89.6km)

27 May

21 hours

9 earthquakes

PS20100702.1(93.2km)

2 Jul

16 hours

5 earthquakes

2011

PS20110204.1(51.0km)

4 Feb

18 hours

6 earthquakes

2016

PS20160406.1(62.8km)

6 Apr

20 hours

6 earthquakes

PS20160415.1(32.5km)

14 Apr

1 day 6 hours

6 earthquakes

2023

PS20230109.1(75.4km)

8 Jan

1 day 8 hours

6 earthquakes

PS20230302.1(41.8km)

2 Mar

6 hours

7 earthquakes

PS20230726.1(119.2km)

26 Jul

1 day 9 hours

9 earthquakes

2024

PS20240722.1(181.6km)

22 Jul

9 hours

6 earthquakes

PS20240911.1(166.3km)

11 Sep

1 hours

5 earthquakes

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Seismic Swarm Event Near Port-Olry, Vanuatu, November 2000

A seismic swarm was recorded 60 km northwest of Port-Olry, Vanuatu, beginning at 19:27 on 15 November 2000 and concluding at 17:06 on 16 November 2000. Over 21 hours and 39 minutes, ten earthquakes occurred, with magnitudes ranging from 5.0 to 5.8. All but one event registered at a focal depth of 33 km; the outlier reached 191 km. The sequence included events at 19:27:14 (M5.7), 03:17:05 (M5.4), 03:39:33 (M5.1), 04:07:42 (M5.2), 05:16:32 (M5.7), 05:18:15 (M5.8), 05:59:13 (M5.0), 06:40:54 (M5.3), 15:55:03 (M5.3), and 17:06:31 (M5.2) on the following day.

Vanuatu lies along the convergent boundary where the Indo-Australian plate subducts beneath the Pacific plate, forming part of the Pacific Ring of Fire. This tectonic setting produces frequent shallow to intermediate-depth earthquakes and sustains active volcanism across the archipelago. The November 2000 swarm occurred within this subduction zone, where clusters of moderate-magnitude events commonly reflect localized stress adjustments along the plate interface.

The region has experienced multiple strong earthquakes since 2000. Notable examples include an M7.0 event 23 km west-northwest of Port-Olry on 8 January 2023, an M7.1 quake 31 km northeast of Port-Olry on 20 October 2015, an M7.2 event 100 km west-northwest of Sola on 27 May 2010, an M7.1 shock 16 km northeast of Port-Olry on 9 January 2001, and an M7.0 earthquake 29 km west-northwest of Luganville on 4 October 2000. These occurrences underscore the persistent seismic hazard in the vicinity of the 2000 swarm.

Such swarms provide insight into the mechanics of subduction-related seismicity. The predominance of shallow events suggests activity concentrated near the plate interface, while the single deeper shock may indicate slip on a separate structure within the subducting slab. Collectively, the sequence illustrates episodic energy release typical of Vanuatu’s tectonically active environment.

References
USGS Earthquake Catalog (earthquake.usgs.gov)
Global CMT Catalog (globalcmt.org)
Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-Hazards Department reports