Strong M6.2 earthquake strikes near Port-Olry, Vanuatu on October 29, 2026

An earthquake measuring M6.2 struck near Port-Olry, Vanuatu, at 21:46 UTC on October 29, 2026. The event occurred approximately 43 km (27 miles) east-southeast of Port-Olry, with the hypocenter located at a depth of 142.8 km (88.7 miles).

The quake’s coordinates were 167.5°E and 15.2°S, placing it in the offshore waters near Espiritu Santo in northern Vanuatu. This region is part of the seismically active Vanuatu archipelago, known for frequent tectonic activity associated with the Pacific “Ring of Fire.”

Critical infrastructure in the area may include ports supporting inter-island transport, local airports connecting remote settlements, and roadways that link coastal communities. Due to the offshore location, disruptions would generally be limited to maritime transport and local logistics networks.

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

The significance index is 591 (on a scale that runs through 1 000), based on magnitude, felt reports, and estimated impact.

Vanuatu is situated along the boundary between the Australian and Pacific tectonic plates, a zone characterized by intense seismic and volcanic activity, resulting in frequent strong earthquakes and occasional tsunamis throughout the region.

This information was last updated at 22:04 UTC on October 29, 2026.