Shallow M6.9 earthquake hits offshore Vanuatu

A shallow M6.9 earthquake was recorded at 02:31 UTC on October 24, 2026, about 197 km (122 miles) west-northwest of Port-Olry, Vanuatu. According to USGS, the hypocenter was located at a depth of 10.0 km (6.2 miles), with epicentral coordinates of 165.5°E, 14.1°S.

This event was situated offshore, northwest of the Espiritu Santo group, in the seismically active region of northern Vanuatu—a part of the southwest Pacific Ocean known for frequent strong earthquakes due to the complex interaction between the Australian and Pacific tectonic plates.

Critical infrastructure in the region potentially includes maritime routes, telecom cables, and shipping activity associated with North Vanuatu’s coastal settlements and islands. There are also likely fishing operations and limited regional airfields serving scattered island communities nearby.

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

The significance index is 732 (on a scale that runs through 1 000), reflecting its magnitude and potential regional impact.

Vanuatu is located along the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” a tectonic boundary notorious for frequent seismic activity and major subduction-related earthquakes.

This information was last updated at 02:45 UTC on October 24, 2026.