Today's earthquake: Strong 6-magnitude tremors shake Vanuatu islands

According to the German Research Center for Geosciences (GFZ), the islands of Vanuatu witnessed strong tremors of magnitude 6 on Tuesday. The shallow earthquake struck at a depth of 10 km (6.21 miles), the GFZ said.

Known for its pristine reefs, active volcanoes and rich Melanesian culture, Vanuatu is an archipelago of 83 islands in the South Pacific. The country is located east of Australia and west of Fiji and has a population of over 315,000.

Are the islands of Vanuatu prone to earthquakes?

Yes, the islands of Vanuatu are extremely prone to earthquakes and are globally recognized as one of the riskiest countries in the world in terms of seismic activity. The archipelago sits right on the Pacific ‘Ring of Fire’, an area of high seismic activity and tectonic plate boundaries where about 90% of the world’s earthquakes occur. The islands sit on a complex boundary where the Indo-Australian plate is pushing under the New Hebrides microplate, creating frequent and often violent seismic events.

What are shallow earthquakes?

Shallow earthquakes are seismic events that originate in the Earth’s upper crust at depths of up to 70 km. They are responsible for the vast majority of global earthquake damage and destruction because they release their energy near the surface without giving the seismic waves time or distance to dissipate. In contrast, deep earthquakes are seismic phenomena that occur at depths exceeding 300 km to 750 km below the Earth’s surface.