M 5.9 in Vanuatu on 28 Mar 2020 17:48 UTC

Hazard models

EQ parameters
Shakemap
Tsunami

Event summary

This earthquake is expected to have a low humanitarian impact based on the magnitude and the affected population and their vulnerability.

Earthquake Magnitude: 5.9M
Depth: 99.1 Km
Lat/Lon: -17.8372 , 168.224
Event Date: 28 Mar 2020 17:48 UTC
29 Mar 2020 04:48 Local
Exposed Population: About 2000 people in MMI
About 84000 people within 100km
Source: NEIC us70008hwi
Inserted at: 29 Mar 2020 17:51 UTC
INFORM Coping capacity of the alert score
6.1 (Vanuatu)

GDACS Score

For more info on GDACS alert score click here.
  Earthquake
(Shakemap)		 GDACS score
NEIC 0 0
us70008hwi Scaled population (raster) 0  
  C1 shakemap -0.59  
  C2 shakemap 0.53  
  Country Vulnerability 0  
  INFORM_normalised 1  
Maximum expected impact using different data sources.

Episode Timeline

IDAlertScoreDateMag, DepthMMI*Population**Tsunami risk***Delay (hh:mm)Source
1302821 0 28 Mar 2020 17:48 5.9M, 99.1km 6.09 N/A (in MMI>=VII) 1d 00:03 NEIC
1303280 0 28 Mar 2020 17:48 5.8M, 84km 5.24 N/A (in MMI>=VII) 3d 02:40 NEIC
The episode that generated the alert; the next major evaluations beyond 12 hours will not trigger additional alerts.
The episode that has the last updated information.
* The max MMI detected for sources having shakemaps;
** The population detected in MMI>=7 for episode with shakemap or in a 100km radius;
*** The tsunami max height.

Exposed population

The earthquake happened in Vanuatu , of Vanuatu (population 165,000) . The nearest places are Epantgoueï, Erakor, Matao Tiupeniu, Nanguilé, Port-Vila, Eratap, Mélé, Montmartre, Natapao, Port-Havannah, and Marow.

Radius Population
100 km 85000 people
75 km 82000 people
50 km 82000 people
20 km 65000 people
10 km 2000 people
5 km no people
2 km no people

Affected Provinces

Region Province Country Population
Vanuatu Vanuatu 170000 people

Affected populated places

Name Region Province Country City class Population Distance
Epantgoueï Vanuatu Village - 7 km
Erakor Vanuatu Village - 8 km
Matao Tiupeniu Vanuatu Village - 12 km
Nanguilé Vanuatu Village - 12 km
Port-Vila Vanuatu Capital 36000 people 15 km
Eratap Vanuatu Village - 17 km
Mélé Vanuatu Village - 17 km
Montmartre Vanuatu Village - 18 km
Natapao Vanuatu Village - 25 km
Port-Havannah Vanuatu Village - 29 km
Sounaï Vanuatu Village - 35 km
Émua Vanuatu Village - 36 km
Epuen Vanuatu Village - 37 km
Ebao Vanuatu Village - 37 km
Forari Vanuatu Village - 37 km
Onésoua Vanuatu Village - 40 km
Laonomoa Vanuatu Village - 42 km
Nekapa Vanuatu Village - 42 km
Utanlangi Vanuatu Village - 46 km
Marow Vanuatu Village - 48 km

see full list

Critical infrastructure

Airports, ports, nuclear plants and hydrodams at risk, if affected, are listed below.

Airports

Name IATA Code Elevation (m) Usage Runway type IFR Runway Length (ft) Distance
Port Vila Bauerfield VLI 20 Civ. Paved Yes 8500 18 km
Quine Hill UIQ unknown 0 38 km
Lamap LPM unknown 0 48 km
Sangafa 2 Civ. Unpaved No 3200 83 km
Emae EAE unknown 0 84 km

Ports

Name LOCODE Country Distance
Port Vila VUVLI Vanuatu 14 km
Forari Bay Vanuatu 38 km

More information

For a full list of available products related to this event, please refer to the GDACS Resources page.