Earthquakes in Vanuatu — August 2026

8 earthquakes were recorded in Vanuatu during August 2026, an average of 0.3 per day.

8 reached magnitude 4 or above and 2 reached magnitude 5 or above. The average focal depth was 322 km.

The month's largest event in Vanuatu was a magnitude 6.1 earthquake near Port-Olry, Vanuatu on 16 August 2026 at 03:20 UTC. A magnitude 6.1 earthquake radiates roughly 21,301 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.

That is below the Vanuatu monthly average of 12 events over the period we cover — a comparatively quiet month, and down from the 17 recorded the previous month.

25% of events here are shallow (under 70 km), 25% intermediate (70–300 km) and 50% deep-focus (over 300 km). That proportion of deep-focus events is the signature of a subduction zone: only a cold slab descending into the mantle stays brittle enough to rupture at those depths.

By band, the catalogue holds 6 in the magnitude 4 range, 1 in the magnitude 5 range, 1 in the magnitude 6 range.

Activity peaked on 10 August, when 3 events were recorded.

The month's largest events were M6.1 near Port-Olry, Vanuatu on 16 August at 188 km; M5.0 near Isangel, Vanuatu on 20 August at 73 km; M4.8 near Isangel, Vanuatu on 10 August at 10 km.

That is 36% below the 12 events Vanuatu averages per month across the 21 months on record.