M7.3 - LOYALTY ISLANDS
Magnitude | 7.3 - Richter scale |
|---|---|
Depth | 33 km (20.5 miles) set by location program Km |
Location | LOYALTY ISLANDS LAT -20.089, LON 168.852 |
Date-Time | Apr 09, 2008 12:46:12 UTC |
Source | USGS NEIC (WDCS-D) |
Event ID(s) | us2008qqa2 |
Distances from major cities | |
|---|---|
75 km (45 miles) SW of Isangel, Tanna, Vanuatu |
Tectonic Summary
The Loyalty Islands (New Hebrides arc) earthquake of April 9, 2008, occurred as the result of thrust-faulting on the boundary between the Australia plate and the New Hebrides plate. In the epicentral region of the earthquakes, the Australia plate moves east-northeast relative to the New Hebrides plate with a velocity of about 11 cm/yr. The Australia plate subducts beneath the New Hebrides plate and is seismically active to a depth of about 300 km northeast of the epicenter of the April 9 earthquake.
The New Hebrides arc region of the Australia/New Hebrides plate-boundary experiences numerous strong earthquakes. In the past quarter century, the thousand kilometer section of the arc centered on the epicenter of the April 9 earthquake has produced over 20 earthquakes of magnitude 7 or greater, the largest having magnitude 7.7.
