Vanuatu Earthquake Tsunami Threat Lifted After M6.9 Quake

A powerful earthquake off northern Vanuatu triggered a tsunami alert on Saturday, 24 October 2026, before officials declared the threat over within the hour. The Vanuatu earthquake, measured at magnitude 6.9, struck offshore in the South Pacific and was initially reported at magnitude 7.2, according to the United States Geological Survey.

The quake hit at 02:31 UTC, about 197 kilometres west-northwest of Port-Olry, at a depth of just 10 kilometres, according to USGS data. The shallow depth and offshore location prompted the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center to warn that hazardous waves were possible along Vanuatu coasts within 300 kilometres of the epicentre.

Tsunami warning issued then lifted

According to the warning centre, its first regional message was issued at 02:38 UTC, with a modelled initial wave arrival for Espiritu Santo at 03:01 UTC. Officials stressed that the modelled time was not an observation of an actual tsunami wave.

In its second and final message at 03:28 UTC, the centre revised the magnitude to 6.9 and said the tsunami threat had passed. Minor sea-level fluctuations remained possible, officials said, and people near the sea were advised to exercise normal caution.

No tsunami threat was identified for Australia or New Zealand, according to the Allora report of the warning centre bulletin. There were no immediate reports of casualties or significant structural damage from the offshore quake.

Why Vanuatu shakes so often

Vanuatu sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, where the Australian and Pacific plates meet in a complex subduction zone. Officials said the region experiences frequent strong earthquakes, and aftershocks were expected after a shallow event of this size.

Authorities continued to assess coastal communities and monitor for aftershocks on Saturday, according to local reports. Residents were urged to follow official advice rather than unverified social media claims about waves or damage.

The revised magnitude matters, officials said, because early estimates are often refined as more seismic stations report. The final USGS solution placed the quake firmly offshore, far from the main population centres of northern Vanuatu.

Officials said further bulletins would follow if sea-level gauges or coastal reports indicated any change, and they urged residents in Vanuatu’s northern islands to keep phones charged, stay away from beaches until the all-clear was confirmed, and to share only official warnings with family in remote communities.