Port-Olry, Vanuatu — A magnitude 4.9 earthquake rattled the northern islands of Vanuatu early Tuesday morning, striking offshore about 199 kilometers northwest of Port-Olry.

What happened: The quake hit at 3:39 a.m. Central Time on Tuesday, October 20, 2026. The U.S. Geological Survey puts it at magnitude 4.9 and lists the focus at roughly 10 kilometers — about 6 miles — below the surface, making it a shallow quake, the kind most likely to be felt near the epicenter.

Impacts: As of this report, the USGS had received no felt reports from the area and issued no damage or tsunami information for this quake. The region sits in one of the most seismically active zones on the planet, where the Australian and Pacific plates collide, so offshore quakes of this size are a known fact of life.

What to do:

- If shaking starts, drop, cover, and hold on under sturdy furniture until it stops.

- Stay clear of windows, glass, and anything that could fall.

- After the shaking, check for hazards like broken gas lines or damaged power lines before using utilities.

- Expect possible aftershocks — have a safe spot ready and keep emergency supplies close.

Source: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), October 20, 2026.