M8.1 earthquake - 1920 Vanuatu Earthquake
38742 d ago · 20 Sept 1920, 14:39 UTC 1920 Vanuatu Earthquake
What happened
A magnitude 8.1 earthquake struck 1920 Vanuatu Earthquake on 20 Sept 1920, 14:39 UTC at a depth of 25 km.
Earthquakes of this size are classed as Great. Can cause severe damage across hundreds of kilometres and may trigger tsunamis. This was a shallow earthquake, which tends to be felt more strongly at the surface.
The nearest town in our records is Port-Vila, about 249 km away in Shefa, Vanuatu.
Timeline
First reported by USGS
16 Oct 2026, 20:46 UTC
Community
Did you feel it?
Nearby in the last 30 days
- 4.7
M4.7 earthquake - 85 km ENE of Tadine, New Caledonia
10 km deep
Moderate - 4.8
M4.8 earthquake - 132 km ENE of Tadine, New Caledonia
10 km deep
Moderate - 5.0
M5.0 earthquake - 83 km NE of Tadine, New Caledonia
10 km deep
Strong - 4.5
M4.5 earthquake - 89 km NE of Tadine, New Caledonia
10 km deep
Moderate - 4.8
M4.8 earthquake - 72 km NE of Tadine, New Caledonia
10 km deep
Moderate - 4.8
M4.8 earthquake - 98 km SW of Port-Vila, Vanuatu
10 km deep
Moderate - 5.0
M5.0 earthquake - 77 km ENE of Tadine, New Caledonia
10 km deep
Strong - 5.3
M5.3 earthquake - 76 km NE of Tadine, New Caledonia
10 km deep
Strong - 5.2
M5.2 earthquake - 67 km ENE of Tadine, New Caledonia
10 km deep
Strong - 4.9
M4.9 earthquake - 39 km ENE of Tadine, New Caledonia
10 km deep
Moderate