Earthquakes in Vanuatu — January 2025

5 earthquakes were recorded in Vanuatu during January 2025, an average of 0.2 per day.

5 reached magnitude 4 or above and 1 reached magnitude 5 or above. The average focal depth was 48 km.

The month's largest event in Vanuatu was a magnitude 5.3 earthquake near Central Malekula, Vanuatu on 04 January 2025 at 22:23 UTC. A magnitude 5.3 earthquake radiates roughly 1,344 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.

That is below the Vanuatu monthly average of 7 events over the period we cover — a comparatively quiet month, and down from the 11 recorded the previous month.

100% of events here are shallow (under 70 km), 0% intermediate (70–300 km) and 0% deep-focus (over 300 km). Almost everything here is crustal. That is characteristic of transform faulting or continental deformation rather than subduction — and it means shaking at the surface is strong for the magnitudes involved.

By band, the catalogue holds 4 in the magnitude 4 range, 1 in the magnitude 5 range.

Activity peaked on 04 January, when 3 events were recorded.

The month's largest events were M5.3 near Central Malekula, Vanuatu on 04 January at 35 km; M4.8 near Malorua, Vanuatu on 05 January at 56 km; M4.8 near Malorua, Vanuatu on 01 January at 63 km.

That is 29% below the 7 events Vanuatu averages per month across the 2 months on record.