Port-Olry, Vanuatu —

What happened: A magnitude 4.9 earthquake struck near the northern islands of Vanuatu at 9:35 this morning Central Time (1:35 tomorrow morning local time). The U.S. Geological Survey places the epicenter about 207 kilometers west-northwest of Port-Olry, at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers.

Impacts: A shallow quake this close to the seafloor can produce stronger shaking than a deeper one of the same size. USGS has flagged no tsunami threat, and no felt reports or damage had been recorded as of this writing.

What to do:

- If you feel shaking, drop to the ground, take cover under sturdy furniture, and hold on until it stops.

- Move away from windows and anything heavy that could fall.

- Once the shaking ends, check for hazards like damaged wiring or unstable structures.

- Aftershocks are possible in the hours ahead — be ready to take cover again.

*Source: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), October 21, 2026.*