Data last collected:
QuakeFactsEvidence report · prepared 19 October 2026https://quakes99.com/entity/usp000b0xy
USGS usp000b0xy
24 Mar 2002, 05:55
Vanuatu region
A magnitude 5.4 mwc earthquake at 33 km depth.
Published location
Where is Vanuatu region?
This locator uses the coordinates in the approved source record. It shows geographic context, not a site boundary, safety zone or property-risk area.
-16.655000, 172.023000
Open the interactive map ↗Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors
What the numbers mean
Magnitude measures event size; depth locates the source below the surface. Neither value alone establishes local damage or personal risk.
Need a current safety answer?
Use local emergency authorities and the live USGS event page. This historical evidence page is not an alert service.
Continue exploring
Nearby events with a similar magnitude
Catalog fields and provenance
Event ID
usp000b0xy
Coordinates
-16.655, 172.023
Network
us
Significance
449
Use this record
Questions this evidence can answer
01What exactly is this record?
Use the name, place, date and identifiers above to confirm that you have the right Vanuatu region earthquake: magnitude 5.4 and depth | QuakeFacts record.
02What does the evidence establish?
Read the reported values with their units, coverage dates and source notes. Keep observed facts separate from estimates or interpretation.
03What should I verify next?
Follow the primary-source links and check the limitations before using this evidence for a decision, comparison or citation.
A closer look at Vanuatu region
Depth in another unit
The recorded event depth of 33 km is approximately 20.51 miles below the source reference surface. Depth alone does not describe damage or local hazard.
Interpreting the recorded coordinates
The published position for Vanuatu region is 16.655° south and 172.023° east. This expresses the source coordinates in hemispheres; it does not establish an entrance, public access or a safe route.