M 7.0 - 29 km WNW of Luganville, Vanuatu

Tectonic Summary

The October 14, 2000, M 7.0 Vanuatu earthquake occurred as the result of shallow reverse faulting on or near the convergent boundary between the Australia and Pacific plates. Focal mechanism solutions for the earthquake indicate that rupture occurred on a moderately dipping reverse fault striking to the northwest or to the southeast. The October 14th earthquake’s location, depth, and focal mechanism solutions are consistent with the earthquake resulting from reverse faulting associated with northeastward-directed subduction along this plate boundary. At the location of the earthquake, the Australia plate moves to the east-northeast with respect to the Pacific plate at a velocity of about 84 mm/yr. The Vanuatu region experiences a high level of earthquake activity at depths up to 350 km and has hosted 15 events of M 7 or larger within 200 km of the October 14th earthquake over the preceding 40 years. Recent large earthquakes nearby include a M 7.5 earthquake in November 1999 and a M 7.2 earthquake in July 1994.