Earthquakes in Vanuatu — September 2026

23 earthquakes were recorded in Vanuatu during September 2026, an average of 0.8 per day.

23 reached magnitude 4 or above and 8 reached magnitude 5 or above. The average focal depth was 71 km.

The month's largest event in Vanuatu was a magnitude 5.6 earthquake near Isangel, Vanuatu on 05 September 2026 at 17:02 UTC. A magnitude 5.6 earthquake radiates roughly 3,788 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.

That is well above the Vanuatu monthly average of 13 events over the period we cover — an unusually active month, and up from the 10 recorded the previous month.

61% of events here are shallow (under 70 km), 39% intermediate (70–300 km) and 0% deep-focus (over 300 km). A substantial share of intermediate-depth events points to a subducting slab beneath the region rather than purely crustal faulting.

By band, the catalogue holds 15 in the magnitude 4 range, 8 in the magnitude 5 range.

Activity peaked on 05 September, when 4 events were recorded.

The month's largest events were M5.6 near Isangel, Vanuatu on 05 September at 10 km; M5.4 near Isangel, Vanuatu on 02 September at 93 km; M5.3 near Vanuatu region on 25 September at 24 km.

That is 79% above the 13 events Vanuatu averages per month across the 23 months on record.