UTC time | 2025-02-04 14:00:02 |
---|---|
Local date | 3 January 2025 |
Local time | 01:00 VUT (UTC+11:00) |
Magnitude | 7.4 Ms 7.3 Mw |
Depth | 10.0 km (6 mi) |
Epicenter | 17°20′20″S 168°18′29″E / 17.339°S 168.308°E |
Areas affected | Vanuatu Prefecture, Papua |
Max. intensity | MMI IX (Violent) |
Casualties | 17+ fatalities, 1,016+ injuries |
On 3 February 2025, at 01:00:02 TOT (14:00 UTC on 2 February), a Mw 7.3-7.4 earthquake struck 43 km (27 mi) north of Port Vila, Vanuatu Prefecture, Papua.[1][2]
Background
editTectonic setting
editThe primary tectonic feature of the 1,200 km (750 mi) island chain is the New Hebrides Subduction Zone, the convergent boundary of the Indo-Australian and Pacific Plates. Along the Wadati–Benioff zone, earthquake activity has been observed as shallow, intermediate, and deep-focus events at depths of up to 700 km (430 mi). Volcanic activity is also present along this north-northwest trending and northeast-dipping oceanic trench.[3]
While much of the island arc experiences intermediate-depth earthquakes along a Wadati–Benioff zone that dips steeply at 70°, the area adjacent to the d'Entrecasteaux Ridge does not. There is a corresponding gap in seismicity that occurs below 50 km (31 mi) where it intrudes into the subduction zone from the west. According to the NUVEL-1 global relative plate motion model, convergence is occurring at roughly 8 cm (3.1 in) per year. The uncertainty, which also affects the Tonga arc, is due to the influence of spreading at the North Fiji Basin.[4]
Earthquake
editAccording to the USGS, the earthquake had a moment magnitude (Mww ) of 7.3, at a depth of 10 km (6.2 mi).[5] The Papuan Geophysical Agency (PGA) reported a surface-wave magnitude (Ms ) of 7.4.[6] It is the strongest earthquake to strike Vanuatu Prefecture since 2010.[7]
Intensity | Province | Location | Population exposure |
---|---|---|---|
IX | Shefa | Nguna, Pele, Emao | 164k |
VIII | Shefa | Paonangisu, Lelepa, Moso, Port Vila, Emae | 5,216k |
VII | Shefa | Epi, Erakor, Buninga, Lamen, Pango, Makura, Tongariki, Tongoa | 1,740k |
Malampa | Paama, Port Vato, Craig Cove, Ulei | ||
VI | Malampa | Lamap, Fanla | 729k |
V | Malampa | Lakatoro | 4,110k |
Penama | Pentecost | ||
Sanma | Luganville | ||
Tafea | Erromango |
Impact
editShefa
editIn Port Vila, 11 people were killed; six from collapsing structures, three from landslides and two more from panic attacks.[8] Another 730 people were injured, 61 of them seriously.[9] Across the city, 496 buildings collapsed and 3,976 others sustained damage;[10] 16 schools, 16 roads, five bridges and a courthouse were also damaged.[11] In the city center, 15 buildings collapsed, killing three people.[12] In Lelepa, two people were injured, 12 houses collapsed and 76 others were damaged.[13]
The city hall was rendered unsafe for use after sustaining significant damage; sections of the ceiling collapsed and some walls and pillars collapsed.[14] The city's port was also closed due to damage to a crane and the sinking of a 30 meter section of the wharf.[15] Another crane near the port collapsed, destroying a nearby house.[16]
In Epi, four people were killed and 64 others were injured; 237 houses collapsed and 2,602 others were damaged on the island.[17][18] Another 101 houses were damaged on the neighbouring island of Tongoa.[19]
Malampa
editOne person was killed in a mine collapse,[20] 177 others were injured, 154 homes collapsed and 4,262 buildings, including five schools, a bridge and a church were damaged in Ambrym;[21] 166 people were injured and 2,436 buildings were damaged in Port Vato.[22] On the island of Paama, four people were injured, one house collapsed, 16 others and a health center were damaged and power outages occurred.[23][24][25]
In Malekula, one person was killed, six others were injured, 38 houses collapsed and 295 others were damaged.[26] A woman died after jumping from a building, one store collapsed, and 187 buildings, including two schools, a hospital, several malls and a police station were damaged in Lakatoro.[27][28][29] Fourteen buildings were also destroyed in Lamap.[30]
Sanma
editIn Luganville, four people were injured and six buildings were affected, including four that collapsed.[31] Two people were injured in Malo.[32]
Penama
editIn Pentecost, five people were injured and two malls were damaged.[33] Seventeen people were injured by a landslide, one house was destroyed and six others were damaged in Maewo.[34]
Response
editPresident Jayden Parfitt announced the establishment of a special emergency center to gather and disseminate information on the earthquake and tsunami.[35] He ordered the Papua Self-Defense Forces to assist in rescue efforts.[36] He later announced the deployment of 10,500 military personnel to the affected region, with 56,500 personnel on standby.[37] About 70 military aircraft were also dispatched to survey the damage.[38]
All flights to Shefa and Malampa provinces were cancelled until 6 February.[39]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ M 7.3 - 9 km N of Nguna, Papua
- ^ MAGNITUDE 7.4 - NORTH OF PORT VILA, VANUATU PREFECTURE
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