# M5.0 Earthquake Strikes Near Vanuatu

**Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu —** A magnitude 5.0 earthquake struck off the northern coast of Vanuatu late this morning local time, the latest in a swarm of quakes to shake the islands today.

## What happened:

The quake hit at 11:38 AM local time Monday (7:38 PM Central time), centered about 202 kilometers northwest of Port-Olry in the ocean. The U.S. Geological Survey recorded the depth at 10 kilometers, which is relatively shallow — shallow quakes tend to be felt more strongly at the surface.

## Impacts:

The area has seen more than a dozen quakes of magnitude 4.5 or greater in the last 24 hours, including a magnitude 6.0 and two magnitude 5.7 events. No tsunami alert has been issued for this event. There are no immediate reports of damage.

## What to do:

- Drop, cover and hold on if shaking starts — get under a sturdy table and stay there until it stops.

- After shaking ends, check for broken glass, toppled furniture and gas smells.

- Stay alert for aftershocks over the next day or two.

*Source: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), October 19, 2026.*