Location:

Period:

14 Apr 2016 12:17:05 - 15 Apr 2016 18:47:08 (1 day 6 hours 30 minutes)

Volcanoes in 100km radius:

Gaua(91km)

Earthquakes:

M 7.0+:

M 7.0; 23 km WNW of Port-Olry, Vanuatu; (8 Jan 2023) (75km from the swarm center)
M 7.1; 31 km NE of Port-Olry, Vanuatu; (20 Oct 2015) (92km from the swarm center)
M 7.2; 100 km WNW of Sola, Vanuatu; (27 May 2010) (67km from the swarm center)
M 7.1; 16 km NE of Port-Olry, Vanuatu; (9 Jan 2001) (87km from the swarm center)

14 swarms found nearby.

2000

PS20001116.1(32.5km)

15 Nov

21 hours

10 earthquakes

2006

PS20060418.1(198.0km)

17 Apr

20 hours

5 earthquakes

2008

PS20081107.1(155.7km)

7 Nov

4 hours

11 earthquakes

2009

PS20091007.1(26.6km)

7 Oct

3 days 11 hours

48 earthquakes

PS20091011.1(189.4km)

11 Oct

1 day 4 hours

7 earthquakes

PS20091014.1(165.5km)

13 Oct

6 hours

5 earthquakes

2010

PS20100527.1(57.4km)

27 May

21 hours

9 earthquakes

PS20100702.1(61.1km)

2 Jul

16 hours

5 earthquakes

2011

PS20110204.1(21.1km)

4 Feb

18 hours

6 earthquakes

2016

PS20160406.1(30.8km)

6 Apr

20 hours

6 earthquakes

2023

PS20230109.1(103.6km)

8 Jan

1 day 8 hours

6 earthquakes

PS20230302.1(66.1km)

2 Mar

6 hours

7 earthquakes

PS20230726.1(137.8km)

26 Jul

1 day 9 hours

9 earthquakes

2024

PS20240911.1(192.6km)

11 Sep

1 hours

5 earthquakes

AI-generated article — for informational and entertainment purposes only. May contain inaccuracies. Full disclaimerFound an error?

Seismic Swarm PS20160415.1: Analysis of Earthquake Activity near Sola, Vanuatu

A seismic swarm designated PS20160415.1 was recorded west of Sola, Vanuatu, beginning at 12:17 on 14 April 2016 and concluding at 18:47 on 15 April 2016. Over this 30-hour period, six earthquakes occurred at a location approximately 101 km west of Sola. The events ranged in magnitude from 5.1 to 6.4, with focal depths between 7 km and 41 km.

The sequence initiated with a magnitude 5.9 earthquake at a depth of 7 km. Subsequent events included a magnitude 6.4 shock at 16 km depth later the same day, followed by additional tremors of magnitudes 5.2, 5.4, 5.1, and 5.3 at depths of 16 km, 35 km, 41 km, and 11 km respectively. These closely spaced occurrences within a compact timeframe characterize the swarm as a cluster of moderate seismic activity without a single dominant mainshock.

Vanuatu lies along the tectonically active New Hebrides subduction zone, where the Indo-Australian Plate converges with the Pacific Plate. This setting produces frequent seismic events as the downgoing slab generates stress release at varying depths. The region experiences both shallow crustal earthquakes and deeper events associated with the subducting slab, consistent with the observed depth range in this swarm.

Historical records since 2000 indicate ten prior swarms in the area, occurring in 2000, 2006, 2008, 2009 (three instances), 2010 (two instances), 2011, and 2016. This pattern underscores recurrent swarm activity linked to the subduction dynamics. Notable strong earthquakes since 2000 include a magnitude 7.2 event in May 2010 located 67 km from the swarm center, a magnitude 7.1 event in October 2015 at 92 km distance, and additional magnitude 7.0–7.1 shocks in 2001 and 2023 within 75–87 km of the site.

Such activity reflects the ongoing plate boundary interactions that define Vanuatu’s seismic hazard profile. Monitoring of swarm sequences contributes to understanding stress migration along the subduction interface.

References
USGS Earthquake Catalog (historical event data)
SeismoSight internal swarm classification records