Quake Watch 2016

Magnitude ML 5.0
Region FRANCE
Date time 2016-04-28 06:46:50.4 UTC
Location 46.04 N ; 1.09 W
Depth 10 km

I was trying to find how common large earthquakes are in france when I came across the 1580 Dover Straits earthquake estimated to be between 5.3 and 5.9.

Further from the coast, furniture danced on the floors and wine casks rolled off their stands. The belfry of Notre Dame de Lorette and several buildings at Lille collapsed. Stones fell from buildings in Arras, Douai, Béthune and Rouen. Windows cracked in the cathedral of Notre Dame at Pontoise, and blocks of stone dropped ominously from the vaulting. At Beauvais, the bells rang as though sounding the tocsin.

In Flanders, chimneys fell and cracks opened in the walls of Ghent and Oudenarde. Peasants in the fields reported a low rumble and saw the ground roll in waves.

On the English coast, sections of wall fell in Dover and a landslip opened a raw new piece of the White Cliffs. At Sandwich a loud noise emanated from the Channel, as church arches cracked and the gable end of a transept fell at St Peter's Church. Near Hythe, Kent, Saltwood Castle — made famous as the site where the plot was hatched in December 1170 to assassinate Thomas Becket — was rendered uninhabitable until it was repaired in the 19th century.

In London, half a dozen chimney stacks and a pinnacle on Westminster Abbey came down; two children were killed by stones falling from the roof of Christ's Church Hospital. Indeed, many Puritans blamed the emerging theatre scene of the time in London, which was seen as the work of the Devil, as a cause of the quake.[8] There was damage far inland, inCambridgeshire, where stones fell from Ely Cathedral. Part of Stratford Castle in Essexcollapsed.

In Scotland, a local report of the quake disturbed the adolescent James VI, who was informed that it was the work of the Devil.[9]

I had no idea it was possible for earthquakes that size to hit England and I wonder what the damage would be if it happened today.

We've had a few in the last decade actually, all minor, causing a few chimneys to topple. I think the only one I have felt here was a 3 or a 4. That actually woke me up and I heard everything rattling and doors banging for maybe 5 seconds.

The problem here is that we haven't built for it. If we experienced a 5 or 6 there would likely be widespread damage because we just don't have the structures designed to withstand it in any way.

And remember that back in 1580 the population of this country was FAR smaller with little towns and villages, and London being the largest city but still only predominantly 1, 2 or 3 storey buildings.

When you compare our situation to nations like Japan, even though they have built to withstand large quakes and even though many of their simple houses are top heavy and at risk of a collapse, many of their traditional buildings are actually designed to withstand them too. This region has always been active and when you see the temples shaking in a quake, the buildings hundreds of years old, you can see that even though they look precarious, the people who built them knew what they were doing.

So, Japan has three stages of EQ endurance when it comes to buildings. Their oldest seem able to withstand them, then they went through a considerable period of building homes unable to withstand large quakes, and then they've gone through a period of all modern buildings being able to withstand them too.

Many of the more dangerous houses built in neighbourhoods in Japan are not resistant to quakes (with heavy tiled roofs on spindly supports easily rocked sideways) but this is because people became complacent - in the same way people everywhere do.

They also have something called Tsunami Stones, carved warnings created possibly hundreds of years ago telling people not to build beyond a certain point. They knew that people would forget, that people would go back to the coasts, that people would probably start building in dangerous areas again, and they tried to warn people knowing that this information could be lost.

Unfortunately, a 5 or 6 hitting the UK would be a real disaster, thankfully they are incredibly rare here and none of us are likely to see one in our lifetimes.

a reply to: LadyTrick

I don't think we really have much to fear seismically (UK). Our rocks are some of the oldest on the planet (which is why our mountains are so small). We are obviously still suffering from glacial rebound, and likely will be for a few thousand years yet but on the whole we are geologically a "safe" area.

What we are far more at risk from is tsunami risk, both from the North Atlantic but also (and in my mind more importantly) from the subduction fault off the coast of Portugal (great Lisbon earthquake of 1755). Recent research has revealed this fault is capable of megathrust activity - which warrants further research as far as im concerned!

ther is an big fault line from Germany to london...rotterdam in the Netherlands is also on that line ...capable of am 7.0 mag.
a reply to: LadyTrick

Quakes relatively common at this location according to Laboratoire de Détection et de Géophysique Bruyères-le-Châtel, France
LES 5 SEISMES LES PLUS FORTS SITUES A MOINS DE 100Km
(Source DASE, Recherche depuis 1970)
07/09/1972 22h26m57s 45.91N 1.54W Magnitude = 5.2
08/06/2001 13h26m53s 46.67N 1.09W Magnitude = 5.1
18/04/2005 06h42m49s 45.92N 1.42W Magnitude = 4.7
10/10/1977 06h05m56s 45.95N 1.44W Magnitude = 4.7
28/09/2010 11h29m39s 45.95N 1.42W Magnitude = 4.5

Translation
Noise heard Comment
AIGONNAY (79370) I heard a roar loud enough amount in power and gradually decreasing. The Phoenix house type (plate and structue metal, structural steel) broke down several times.
AIZENAY (85190) Sensation of a heavy weight that would have grazed the building.
AMBAZAC (87240) shaking lasted about 5s'.les were tremors in the direction west / east
ANDILLY (17230) deaf vibrations about two seconds and "explosion" more powerful
ANGEAC-Charente (16120) I thought it was a neighboring house that had exploded
ANGERS (49000) Testimony of my son by internet
ANGERS (49000) Strangely, no noise heard Being lying down when the tremor, feeling significantly push the mattress to the wall, without actually move much.
ANGERS (49000) brief sensation of the bed undulations
ANGOULEME (16000) I just felt a long vibration of the ground and everything around me. No significant noise, a few trinkets fell from my office. For me it lasted only about ten seconds.
ANGOULEME (16000) The building has fluctuated sharply
ANGOULEME (16000) essentially vibration throughout the house with the only sounds of construction without external noise
ANGOULEME (16000) I can not answer questions because I was sleeping my 15 year old daughter and it also has réveillé.On we just heard a roar move my bed and cabinets have vibrated is all I understatement. I hope this will help you in your analysis.
ANGOULINS (17690) Everything in the house tremble
ANGOULINS (17690) feeling very violent explosion - powerful rumbling detonation -Perception then a bright flash
ANGOULINS (17690) More a question: Bressuire 14.04 3.1 Tarbes: 22.04: 3.6 Pau: 25.04: 4 La Rochelle: 28.04: 5.2 What interpretation do you draw from this increase in one area
ANGOULINS (17690) there was a very strong explosion (never heard a very loud explosion age: 73 years) with a major vibration amplitude .My home is concrete block formwork. E
ANGOULINS (17690) unlike previous earthquakes: -very short -no "rumble" serious -bruit -l'impression a "current" passes directly under the house -no harbinger -réaction "physical" (my body) very strong
ANGOULINS (17690) Loud noise but short enough (a few seconds)
ARRENES (23210) The feeling is like putting road a large washing machine drum, which lasted 3 to 4 seconds
ARVERT (17530) I did not hear any noise because I was sleeping but I clearly felt my swing bed, which woke me up, and heard closing scrap my shutters rattle loudly.
AUBIGNY (85430) A strong enough vibration to feel the ground shake (without oscillation). The posters taped to the large windows in the upper part slightly moved.
AUZAY (85200) noise of a big thunderclap or a plane that passes the sound barrier and then shaking rumble like a high turnover
AYTRE (17440) for 5s to 10s, then a low rumble like a distant explosion of its ...
AYTRE (17440) As a large truck that would pass in the street, or a jackhammer
AYTRE (17440) As a noise collapse of a building (the deaf)
AYTRE (17440) First a distant rumble followed by a boom.
AYTRE (17440) House very very old (1000 or less) she had to see others over the centuries! Finally she held. I was awake but still in bed with a huge ceiling beam I saw trembling. What made me jump out of bed!
AYTRE (17440) Explosion Noise and vibration strong ground under my feet for 1/2 second A few pieces of falling plaster facades (already substantially damaged and peeled) on 2 buildings Some pieces have moved on high shelves ( ca. 6-7 m) in 1 shop industrial site of 24 ha. - 110,000 hectares - 80 buildings - average age of buildings
AYTRE (17440) First I thought it was a plane crash, since the noise came from above rather then to a gas explosion, it lasted two to three seconds
AYTRE (17440) vers8h45 two absolutely huge explosions as a chemical plant or a nearby house that would have shattered. The first explosion stronger second to 0.5 second only slightly lower than the first but still very strong. everyone immediately out of the houses in this residential area. little fire siren; we were surprised because we thought many died in an explosion may be at Alsthom?
LOWER GOULAINE (44115) in the portion of a truck in the street would make a little shook the building I was in my workstation on the 2nd floor, my desk and shook my computer screen moved (vibrated?) from left to right on his foot central seconds
BEAUVAIS SUR MATHA (17490) I was lying on the couch and we had an earthquake of about 5 seconds
BELLEVILLE-SUR-VIE (85170) The ceiling and the walls began to crack hard abnormally (usually only a creaking sounds when a door slams down) as if a large animal had fun running on the roof. That was for the first 2 seconds, during which I had time to sit up on my bed Then for 1 second, I clearly was "shoved" a little left and right sharply. There I was afraid (and I thought "earthquake"). Then again, creaking ceiling I thought that was collapsing, so I quickly got up to leave the room.
Benet (85490) The sound of a motorcycle that starts near
BESSINES (79000) The thunderclap was heard the first noise and vibration with a thud after it intervened
BEURLAY (17250) I find it weird that my neighbor is felt the jolt and I just heard a thump as a truck or as the storm while we are 5 meters from each other
BLANZAY (86400) it was as if the house rose and fell after while vibrating home
BLANZAY (86400) noise-like passage of the sound barrier of a high altitude aircraft
GOOD (86300) room upstairs wood and parquet flooring; day off and awakened by shaking in my bed and my three dogs began to bark once. I looked at my laptop as: 8:48
BORDEAUX (33200) No perceived noise
BORDEAUX (33000) It was very strange ... like a very low sound heavy, very serious barely audible.
EDGE (17430) My cat got up suddenly feared he growl 3 minutes before it is through intake has him it made me panic
BOUAYE (44830) I've had the opportunity to experience an earthquake in northern France in 1995. I had that day, reliving the same shorter. In both cases I was in bed Place where the feelings are more noticeable. There was no truck in the street at that moment.
BOUGNEAU (17800) felt by friends on Marennes and the island of Oléron.
BOUGUENAIS (44340) horizontal oscillations of the building (especially high 2 storey research center Ifsttar). oscillating PC screens
BOUILLE-COURDAULT (85420) a truck that comes to us by slowing
BOULAZAC (24750) I was resting on my bed and I felt it move. I saw the iron frame canvas screen, shake my room and my big cactus. This lasted a few seconds. I got up quickly, I was very impressed. I went to join my husband in the kitchen s's'apprêtait from work. He confirmed what I had felt.
BOURGNEUF (17220) roar loud and close
BOUTENAC-TOUVENT (17120) Animals worried when the tremor.
BRESSUIRE (79300) As a large truck passing in your street but a little stronger because I was watching TV in my bed and I felt the jolt and I got up to go to the window to see if it does there were no accidents
BREUIL-MAGNE (17870) I've suffered several earthquakes. It was dry, loud and short, impressive all the same ..
BRIVES-SUR-CHARENTE (17800) Vibration about 5 seconds as if a heavy vehicle or a large truck slowly passed close but there was no vehicle near the house.
BRULAIN (79230) A bit like when my old oil boiler starts (rumbling vibration) or as if there was a jackhammer / work next to my house. Vibrations / rumblings of some walls.
BUSSAC-SUR-CHARENTE (17100) I have already felt the 2005 has AIGREFEUILLE D'aunis
CAEN (14000) close

Link to Felt Comments in post above, from Le Bureau Central Sismologique Français
www.seisme.prd.fr...

I'm going to take a minute and say I am wrong. I thought there would be a big cluster after the lunar peak. So there.

I don't mind admitting I'm wrong. I'm wrong, I hate it. Nah, that's wrong. If I learn something I'm okay with it.

However, as I alluded to, I think this is a two cycle, which means there is a still one more lunar peak. On May 6 we have a new moon at a close perigee. Maybe nothing will happen and I can shut up.

7.3



31km ESE of Lakatoro, Vanuatu
2016-04-28 19:33:25 UTC


10.0 km



earthquake.usgs.gov...

Time
2016-04-28 19:33:25 (UTC)
2016-04-28 12:33:25 (UTC-07:00) in your timezone
Times in other timezones
Nearby Places
31.0 km (19.3 mi) ESE of Lakatoro, Vanuatu
93.0 km (57.8 mi) SE of Luganville, Vanuatu
182.0 km (113.1 mi) NNW of Port-Vila, Vanuatu
524.0 km (325.6 mi) N of We, New Caledonia
671.0 km (416.9 mi) NNE of Dumbea, New Caledonia


Revised to a 7.0 (USGS)

M 7.0 - 5km WSW of Norsup, Vanuatu

Time
2016-04-28 19:33:26 (UTC)
2016-04-28 12:33:26 (UTC-07:00) in your timezone
Times in other timezones
Nearby Places
5.0 km (3.1 mi) WSW of Norsup, Vanuatu
64.0 km (39.8 mi) SSE of Luganville, Vanuatu
209.0 km (129.9 mi) NNW of Port-Vila, Vanuatu
533.0 km (331.2 mi) N of We, New Caledonia
676.0 km (420.0 mi) N of Dumbea, New Caledonia



earthquake.usgs.gov...

000
WEPA40 PHEB 282012
TSUPAC

TSUNAMI MESSAGE NUMBER 2
NWS PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER EWA BEACH HI
2011 UTC THU APR 28 2016

...PTWC TSUNAMI THREAT MESSAGE...


**** NOTICE **** NOTICE **** NOTICE **** NOTICE **** NOTICE *****

THIS MESSAGE IS ISSUED FOR INFORMATION ONLY IN SUPPORT OF THE
UNESCO/IOC PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING AND MITIGATION SYSTEM AND IS
MEANT FOR NATIONAL AUTHORITIES IN EACH COUNTRY OF THAT SYSTEM.

NATIONAL AUTHORITIES WILL DETERMINE THE APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF
ALERT FOR EACH COUNTRY AND MAY ISSUE ADDITIONAL OR MORE REFINED
INFORMATION.

**** NOTICE **** NOTICE **** NOTICE **** NOTICE **** NOTICE *****


PRELIMINARY EARTHQUAKE PARAMETERS
---------------------------------

* MAGNITUDE 7.0
* ORIGIN TIME 1933 UTC APR 28 2016
* COORDINATES 16.2 SOUTH 167.7 EAST
* DEPTH 10 KM / 6 MILES
* LOCATION VANUATU


EVALUATION
----------

* NOTE REVISED EARTHQUAKE MAGNITUDE

* AN EARTHQUAKE WITH A PRELIMINARY MAGNITUDE OF 7.0 OCCURRED IN
THE VANUATU ISLANDS AT 1933 UTC ON THURSDAY APRIL 28 2016.

* BASED ON ALL AVAILABLE DATA... HAZARDOUS TSUNAMI WAVES ARE
FORECAST FOR SOME COASTS.


TSUNAMI THREAT FORECAST...UPDATED
---------------------------------

* TSUNAMI WAVES REACHING 1 TO 3 METERS ABOVE THE TIDE LEVEL ARE
POSSIBLE ALONG SOME COASTS OF

VANUATU.


* TSUNAMI WAVES ARE FORECAST TO BE LESS THAN 0.3 METERS ABOVE
THE TIDE LEVEL FOR THE COASTS OF

FIJI... NEW CALEDONIA... PAPUA NEW GUINEA... SOLOMON
ISLANDS... AND TUVALU.


* ACTUAL AMPLITUDES AT THE COAST MAY VARY FROM FORECAST
AMPLITUDES DUE TO UNCERTAINTIES IN THE FORECAST AND LOCAL
FEATURES. IN PARTICULAR MAXIMUM TSUNAMI AMPLITUDES ON ATOLLS
WILL LIKELY BE MUCH SMALLER THAN THE FORECAST INDICATES.

* FOR OTHER AREAS COVERED BY THIS PRODUCT A FORECAST HAS NOT
YET BEEN COMPUTED. THE FORECAST WILL BE EXPANDED AS NECESSARY
IN SUBSEQUENT PRODUCTS.


RECOMMENDED ACTIONS
-------------------

* GOVERNMENT AGENCIES RESPONSIBLE FOR THREATENED COASTAL AREAS
SHOULD TAKE ACTION TO INFORM AND INSTRUCT ANY COASTAL
POPULATIONS AT RISK IN ACCORDANCE WITH THEIR OWN EVALUATION...
PROCEDURES AND THE LEVEL OF THREAT.

* PERSONS LOCATED IN THREATENED COASTAL AREAS SHOULD STAY ALERT
FOR INFORMATION AND FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS FROM NATIONAL AND
LOCAL AUTHORITIES.


ESTIMATED TIMES OF ARRIVAL
--------------------------

* ESTIMATED TIMES OF ARRIVAL -ETA- OF THE INITIAL TSUNAMI WAVE
FOR PLACES WITHIN THREATENED REGIONS ARE GIVEN BELOW. ACTUAL
ARRIVAL TIMES MAY DIFFER AND THE INITIAL WAVE MAY NOT BE THE
LARGEST. A TSUNAMI IS A SERIES OF WAVES AND THE TIME BETWEEN
WAVES CAN BE FIVE MINUTES TO ONE HOUR.

LOCATION REGION COORDINATES ETA(UTC)
------------------------------------------------------------
ESPERITU SANTO VANUATU 15.1S 167.3E 1951 04/28
ANATOM ISLAND VANUATU 20.2S 169.9E 2043 04/28


POTENTIAL IMPACTS
-----------------

* A TSUNAMI IS A SERIES OF WAVES. THE TIME BETWEEN WAVE CRESTS
CAN VARY FROM 5 MINUTES TO AN HOUR. THE HAZARD MAY PERSIST FOR
MANY HOURS OR LONGER AFTER THE INITIAL WAVE.

* IMPACTS CAN VARY SIGNIFICANTLY FROM ONE SECTION OF COAST TO
THE NEXT DUE TO LOCAL BATHYMETRY AND THE SHAPE AND ELEVATION
OF THE SHORELINE.

* IMPACTS CAN ALSO VARY DEPENDING UPON THE STATE OF THE TIDE AT
THE TIME OF THE MAXIMUM TSUNAMI WAVES.

* PERSONS CAUGHT IN THE WATER OF A TSUNAMI MAY DROWN... BE
CRUSHED BY DEBRIS IN THE WATER... OR BE SWEPT OUT TO SEA.


NEXT UPDATE AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
--------------------------------------

* THE NEXT MESSAGE WILL BE ISSUED IN ONE HOUR... OR SOONER IF
THE SITUATION WARRANTS.

* AUTHORITATIVE INFORMATION ABOUT THE EARTHQUAKE FROM THE U.S.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CAN BE FOUND ON THE INTERNET AT
EARTHQUAKE.USGS.GOV/EARTHQUAKES -ALL LOWER CASE-.

* FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THIS EVENT MAY BE FOUND AT
PTWC.WEATHER.GOV AND AT WWW.TSUNAMI.GOV.

* COASTAL REGIONS OF HAWAII... AMERICAN SAMOA... GUAM... AND
CNMI SHOULD REFER TO PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER MESSAGES
SPECIFICALLY FOR THOSE PLACES THAT CAN BE FOUND AT
PTWC.WEATHER.GOV.

* COASTAL REGIONS OF CALIFORNIA... OREGON... WASHINGTON...
BRITISH COLUMBIA AND ALASKA SHOULD ONLY REFER TO U.S. NATIONAL
TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER MESSAGES THAT CAN BE FOUND AT
NTWC.ARH.NOAA.GOV.

$$

a reply to: dreamfox1

TSUNAMI WAVES REACHING 1 TO 3 METERS ABOVE THE TIDE LEVEL ARE
POSSIBLE ALONG SOME COASTS OF
VANUATU.

They are way off the mark
The largest wave will be/was less than 1ft (200mm)

GDACS

a reply to: muzzy

yea i had the same thought too XD

mainly because the epicentre was below land, not sea.
I would say it would have to be a M8.0+ to displace the land so much that it caused a tsunami 1-3m high, even in the other coastal Vanuatu islands
depends on the shapes of the coast I guess, pretty open area in this case.

I just added it to the Significant EQ blog, along with 4 others above 6.5, been away or busy lately.
We are up to 20,323 Kilo Tons of TNT for 2016, mainly because of those two 7.8's

M 6.9


M 6.9 - Northern East Pacific Rise

earthquake.usgs.gov...


Time
2016-04-29 01:33:44 (UTC)
2016-04-28 18:33:44 (UTC-07:00) in your timezone
Times in other timezones
Nearby Places
593.0 km (368.5 mi) E of Clipperton Island, France
849.0 km (527.5 mi) SSW of Acapulco de Juarez, Mexico
849.0 km (527.5 mi) SSW of Tecpan de Galeana, Mexico
854.0 km (530.7 mi) SSW of Petatlan, Mexico
1137.0 km (706.5 mi) SSW of Mexico City, Mexico


Revised by (USGS)


M6.8 - Northern East Pacific Rise

2016-04-29 01:33:38 UTC 10.0 km

Time
2016-04-29 01:33:38 (UTC)
2016-04-28 18:33:38 (UTC-07:00) in your timezone
Times in other timezones
Nearby Places
597.0 km (371.0 mi) E of Clipperton Island, France
842.0 km (523.2 mi) SSW of Acapulco de Juarez, Mexico
842.0 km (523.2 mi) SSW of Tecpan de Galeana, Mexico
847.0 km (526.3 mi) SSW of Petatlan, Mexico
1131.0 km (702.8 mi) SSW of Mexico City, Mexico

earthquake.usgs.gov...






Revised by USGS again !!!!

Im calling BS !

M6.6 - Northern East Pacific Rise

earthquake.usgs.gov...

Time
2016-04-29 01:33:38 (UTC)
2016-04-28 18:33:38 (UTC-07:00) in your timezone
Times in other timezones
Nearby Places
602.0 km (374.1 mi) E of Clipperton Island, France
838.0 km (520.7 mi) SSW of Acapulco de Juarez, Mexico
838.0 km (520.7 mi) SSW of Tecpan de Galeana, Mexico
844.0 km (524.4 mi) SSW of Petatlan, Mexico
1126.0 km (699.7 mi) SSW of Mexico City, Mexico

ptwc.weather.gov...

000
WEHW42 PHEB 290142
TIBHWX
HIZ001>003-005>009-012>014-016>021-023>026-290342-

TSUNAMI INFORMATION STATEMENT NUMBER 1
NWS PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER EWA BEACH HI
342 PM HST THU APR 28 2016

TO - EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT IN THE STATE OF HAWAII

SUBJECT - TSUNAMI INFORMATION STATEMENT

THIS STATEMENT IS FOR INFORMATION ONLY. NO ACTION REQUIRED.

AN EARTHQUAKE HAS OCCURRED WITH THESE PRELIMINARY PARAMETERS

ORIGIN TIME - 0334 PM HST 28 APR 2016
COORDINATES - 10.2 NORTH 103.8 WEST
LOCATION - NORTHERN EAST PACIFIC RISE
MAGNITUDE - 6.9 MOMENT

EVALUATION

BASED ON ALL AVAILABLE DATA A DESTRUCTIVE PACIFIC-WIDE TSUNAMI IS
NOT EXPECTED AND THERE IS NO TSUNAMI THREAT TO HAWAII. REPEAT. A
DESTRUCTIVE PACIFIC-WIDE TSUNAMI IS NOT EXPECTED AND THERE IS NO
TSUNAMI THREAT TO HAWAII.

THIS WILL BE THE ONLY STATEMENT ISSUED FOR THIS EVENT UNLESS
ADDITIONAL DATA ARE RECEIVED.

$$

ptwc.weather.gov...

Damn, now I'll have to go redo the 6.5+ pie and file again, I just updated it this morning.

Dang!

3.0 Lakeview, Alabama. 1.2km (0.8mi)

earthquake.usgs.gov...

No damage or injury. Lot's of little one's in the eastern US. Folks felt it.

Anyone here feel this one?

Keep an eye on the Northern East Pacific Rise



Vanuatu just had two 5.0 back to back

a reply to: dreamfox1

I am paying attention.

If anyone is interested in reading about this area.

earthquake.usgs.gov...

a reply to: dreamfox1
Yes that 7.0 yesterday has set off a new series centered around Malakula Island.
The earlier April ones were north of Espiritu Santo is.

I was working on my Vanuatu page yesterday 2011-2016, when I suddenly realized that the all pre 2011 maps I did were just for the South Hebrides Trench, not for all of Vanuatu (New Hebrides). It's mind boggling how many big quakes they get there.
I remember those two big 7.5+ quakes in 2009, same area as Aprils events.
Crikey I could just do a whole blog on Vanuatu.
Vanuatu has been cut off from the World partly due to that Cyclone Pam in 2015, tourism taking a big hit (was 65^ of GDP), Port Vila airport runway repairs have just started this last week by a NZ contractor after many delays. They are shipping in cold asphalt, as there are no hot asphalt plants on the islands.