Port-Olry, Vanuatu — A magnitude 5.1 earthquake struck about 170 kilometers (roughly 105 miles) northwest of Port-Olry, Vanuatu, on Thursday night at 10:08 p.m. Central time. It is the latest in a burst of earthquakes to hit the island nation this evening, following earlier quakes measured at magnitudes 7.2, 6.9 and 6.3.

What happened:

The U.S. Geological Survey reports the magnitude 5.1 quake was centered about 10 kilometers (roughly 6 miles) below the surface. It struck at 10:08 p.m. Central time Thursday (3:08 a.m. Friday Coordinated Universal Time, or about 2:08 p.m. Friday local time in Vanuatu).

Impacts:

USGS has not flagged a tsunami threat for this earthquake. No felt reports or damage details were available in the agency's initial listing. The shaking comes hours after the larger Vanuatu earthquakes Thursday evening, and scientists caution that aftershocks are common after a sequence like this.

What to do:

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

- Stay away from windows, glass, and anything that could fall.

- After shaking stops, check for hazards like broken glass, gas smells, or damaged wiring.

- Expect aftershocks and be ready to repeat drop, cover, and hold on.

Source: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), October 23, 2026.