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Magnitude 7.3 - LOYALTY ISLANDS

2008 April 09 12:46:12 UTC

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Earthquake Details

Magnitude7.3
Date-Time
Location20.089°S, 168.852°E
Depth33 km (20.5 miles) set by location program
RegionLOYALTY ISLANDS
Distances75 km (45 miles) SW of Isangel, Tanna, Vanuatu
185 km (115 miles) NNE of Tadine, Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia
265 km (165 miles) SSE of PORT-VILA, Efate, Vanuatu
1800 km (1120 miles) ENE of BRISBANE, Queensland, Australia
Location Uncertaintyhorizontal +/- 5.3 km (3.3 miles); depth fixed by location program
ParametersNST=333, Nph=333, Dmin=332.6 km, Rmss=1.16 sec, Gp= 14°,
M-type=moment magnitude (Mw), Version=R
Source
  • USGS NEIC (WDCS-D)
Event IDus2008qqa2
  • This event has been reviewed by a seismologist.
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Earthquake Summary

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Earthquake Summary Poster

  • The following is a release by the United States Geological Survey, National Earthquake Information Center: An earthquake occurred 85 km (55 miles) SSW of Isangel, Tanna, Vanuatu, 175 km (110 miles) NE of Tadine, Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia, 275 km (170 miles) S of PORT-VILA, Efate, Vanuatu, 1800 km (1120 miles) ENE of BRISBANE, Queensland, Australia at 5:46 AM MST, Apr 9, 2008 (11:46 PM local time in Loyalty Islands). The magnitude and location may be revised when additional data and further analysis results are available. No reports of damage or casualties have been received at this time.

    • Tectonic Summary

    The Loyalty Islands (New Hebrides arc) earthquake of April 9, 2008, occurred as the result of thrust-faulting on the boundary between the Australia plate and the New Hebrides plate. In the epicentral region of the earthquakes, the Australia plate moves east-northeast relative to the New Hebrides plate with a velocity of about 11 cm/yr. The Australia plate subducts beneath the New Hebrides plate and is seismically active to a depth of about 300 km northeast of the epicenter of the April 9 earthquake.

    The New Hebrides arc region of the Australia/New Hebrides plate-boundary experiences numerous strong earthquakes. In the past quarter century, the thousand kilometer section of the arc centered on the epicenter of the April 9 earthquake has produced over 20 earthquakes of magnitude 7 or greater, the largest having magnitude 7.7.

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