Shallow M5.7 earthquake hits northwest of Port-Olry, Vanuatu

A shallow M5.7 earthquake was registered at 18:52 UTC on October 19, 2026, about 198 km (123 miles) northwest of Port-Olry, Vanuatu. The earthquake occurred at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 miles).

The epicenter was located at coordinates 165.6°E, 14.0°S, in the offshore region northwest of Port-Olry, Vanuatu. This area is characterized by remote oceanic surroundings, with inhabited islands such as Espiritu Santo located to the southeast.

Given the offshore location, primary infrastructure in the affected area may include maritime facilities, small coastal airstrips, and basic island transportation routes. More substantial infrastructure is concentrated further southeast on Vanuatu’s larger islands.

There is no tsunami threat associated with this earthquake, based on its location and available data.

USGS issued a green alert for this event, indicating a low likelihood of casualties or damage. The maximum estimated intensity was 0 and the significance index is 500 (on a scale that runs through 1 000), based on magnitude, felt reports, and estimated impact.

Vanuatu lies along the boundary between the Australian and Pacific tectonic plates, making it part of the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire renowned for frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity.

This information was last updated at 19:16 UTC on October 19, 2026.