M 5.9 in Vanuatu on 16 May 2020 03:15 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: 165.66 Km
Lat/Lon: -16.0936 , 167.9806
Event Date: 16 May 2020 03:15 UTC
16 May 2020 14:15 Local
Exposed Population: About 86000 people within 100km
Source: NEIC us70009hnm
Inserted at: 16 May 2020 16:33 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
us70009hnm Scaled population (raster) 0  
  C1 shakemap -0.59  
  C2 shakemap 0.53  
  Country Vulnerability 0  
  INFORM_normalised 1.12  
Maximum expected impact using different data sources.

ShakeMap is a product of the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program in conjunction with the regional seismic networks. ShakeMaps provide near-real-time maps of ground motion and shaking intensity following significant earthquakes.


Episode Timeline

IDAlertScoreDateMag, DepthMMI*Population**Tsunami risk***Delay (hh:mm)Source
1310667 0 16 May 2020 03:15 5.9M, 165.66km 3.88 N/A (in MMI>=VII) 13:18 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 unknowed a zone. The alertlevel for this event is GREEN

Intensity Population
no people


Shakemaps Timeline

AlertShake id #ScoreepisodeidLat/LonMagnitudeDepthMax MMIDate shake (UTC)Delay (hh:mm) 
1 0 1310667 -16.094/167.981 5.9 165.7 3.9 16 May 2020 03:43 00:28 (new episode)
2 0 1310667 -16.094/167.981 5.9 165.7 3.899 16 May 2020 03:53 00:37 (upd of #1)
3 0 1310667 -16.094/167.981 5.9 165.7 3.899 16 May 2020 05:23 02:07 (upd of #2)
4 0 1310667 -16.094/167.963 5.9 170.1 3.877 16 May 2020 16:33 13:18 (upd of #3)
5 0 1310667 -16.094/167.963 5.9 170.1 3.877 17 May 2020 03:18 1d 00:02 (upd of #4)

Affected Provinces



Critical infrastructure

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

More information

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