USGS · September 3, 2026
Magnitude 5.4 earthquake — 82 km S of Isangel, Vanuatu
A magnitude 5.4 earthquake was recorded near 82 km S of Isangel, Vanuatu on Sep 3, 2026, 08:22 AM (local time at the epicentre — UTC+11), at a depth of about 93.1 km, according to USGS.
USGSShaking IVPAGER GreenIntermediate (70–300 km)Reviewed by a seismologist
Updated 2026-09-04 17:15 UTC
The full record
- Magnitude
- M 5.4 · moment magnitude (W-phase)
- Location
- 82 km S of Isangel, Vanuatu
- Local time at the epicentre
- Sep 3, 2026, 08:22 AM — UTC+11
- Time (UTC)
- 2026-09-02 21:22 UTC
- Depth
- 93.1 km · Intermediate (70–300 km)
- Coordinates
- -20.279, 169.401
- Felt reports
- No “Did You Feel It?” reports submitted
- Estimated shaking
- IV · Light
- PAGER impact alert
- Green — No casualties or significant damage expected.
- Tsunami
- No tsunami evaluation was flagged for this earthquake.
- Significance
- 449 / 1000 · notable event
- Solution quality
- 106 seismic stations used · 22° azimuthal gap (well-constrained epicentre)
- Review status
- Reviewed by a seismologist
- Catalog
- USGS
Epicentre and nearby recent earthquakes
The highlighted circle is this earthquake. Smaller circles are other events recorded nearby in the last 30 days.
What the shaking was like
At this depth the energy spreads out before it reaches the surface, so shaking is usually weaker but felt over a wider area.
Estimated instrumental shaking IV (Light): Felt indoors by many; dishes and windows rattle and parked cars rock.
Felt it yourself? USGS collects first-hand reports through “Did You Feel It?”, and those reports are what produce the community intensity above.
Who lives nearby
About 0 people live in towns within 30 km of the epicentre, and 1,437 within 100 km. Distances are from the epicentre to the town centre.
| Place | Distance | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Isangel | 82.9 km N | 1,437 |
Earthquake history in this area
12 earthquakes of magnitude 4.5+ have been recorded within 200 km of this epicentre since 1960.
Other earthquakes near this epicentre
4 other events within 100 km in the last 30 days.
Be first to know about the next earthquake near 82 km S of Isangel, Vanuatu
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Frequently asked questions
How strong was the 82 km S of Isangel, Vanuatu earthquake?
Magnitude 5.4 (moment magnitude (W-phase)), at a depth of 93.1 km. At this depth the energy spreads out before it reaches the surface, so shaking is usually weaker but felt over a wider area.
Exactly when did it happen?
Sep 3, 2026, 08:22 AM (local time at the epicentre — UTC+11). In universal time: 2026-09-02 21:22 UTC.
Was it felt?
No “Did You Feel It?” reports were submitted for this event. Felt indoors by many; dishes and windows rattle and parked cars rock.
Was there a tsunami warning?
No tsunami evaluation was flagged for this earthquake.
Which towns are closest to the epicentre?
The closest is Isangel, 82.9 km N (population 1,437).
Are earthquakes normal in this area?
Yes. The largest earthquake recorded within 200 km since 1960 was magnitude 7.5 (166 km ESE of Tadine, New Caledonia, 2018), and 4 further events were recorded within 100 km in the last 30 days.
How do I get alerts for the next earthquake here?
Install the free SeismoWatch Android app, draw a box over this area, set a minimum magnitude, and turn alerts on.
About this page
Event data: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) and, in Venezuela, FUNVISIS. Populated places and time zones: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Preliminary solutions are revised as more observations arrive.