What the record shows for Vanuatu
The strongest earthquake on record near Vanuatu is a magnitude 7.9 in 1950, centred 99 km SW of Port-Vila, Vanuatu - 76 years ago. The event is catalogued by USGS. See the event record.
Over the last 20 years, USGS has catalogued 5,080 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater within 333 km of Vanuatu - roughly 254 a year. That rate describes how often the ground moves enough to be recorded, not how often damage occurs; most of these are never felt.
The NOAA NCEI database records 37 tsunamis within 333 km of Vanuatu between 1863 and 2024. The most significant was in 2024 near Vanuatu Islands, triggered by an M7.3 earthquake, which killed around 14 people.
12 volcanoes are catalogued near Vanuatu, including Ambrym, Lopevi, East Epi, Kuwae, NE Shepherd Islands, Nguna-Emau and 6 more. Volcanic systems generate their own earthquake swarms, which is why activity here can look different from a purely tectonic region.
Sources: USGS earthquake catalog, NOAA tsunami database, and the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. Figures update as the catalogs are revised.
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Vanuatu lies along the highly active New Hebrides subduction zone in the South Pacific.
The only real protection is a warning the moment the ground moves - which is exactly what the free QuakeMate app gives you, along with tsunami and volcano alerts for Vanuatu.
Earthquake risk in Vanuatu - FAQ
Is Vanuatu at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 254 quakes a year nearby of magnitude 4+ within 333 km, based on the last 20 years of USGS data. The strongest earthquake on record nearby is M7.9 in 1950.
What was the biggest earthquake in Vanuatu?
The strongest earthquake on record near Vanuatu is M7.9, in 1950 (99 km SW of Port-Vila, Vanuatu), from USGS.
Does Vanuatu get tsunamis?
Yes - 37 tsunamis since 1863 (most recently 2024) within 333 km, from the NOAA database. The deadliest killed around 14 people.
How do I get earthquake warnings in Vanuatu?
Download the free QuakeMate app for iPhone. It watches your location and sends a real-time push the instant a quake strikes nearby, plus tsunami and volcano alerts, with custom magnitude and distance rules. On Android, join the waitlist.