64 km S of Port-Vila, Vanuatu

A magnitude 7.1 earthquake — a major event — struck near 64 km S of Port-Vila, Vanuatu on August 20, 2011, at a shallow depth of about 28 km. An earthquake this size would have been felt strongly across the surrounding region; shallow earthquakes release their energy close to the surface, so they tend to cause the strongest shaking and the most damage. 23 people submitted "Did You Feel It?" shaking reports to the USGS. Casualties, damage and the recovery depend on local building standards, population and distance from the epicentre — the news coverage, references and photos below capture what happened on the ground.