Port-Olry, Vanuatu — A magnitude 5.2 earthquake struck in the ocean northwest of Port-Olry, Vanuatu, early Tuesday morning, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

What happened: The quake hit at 5:50 AM Central Time on Tuesday, October 27, 2026 (9:50 PM local time in Vanuatu). The U.S. Geological Survey places the epicenter about 191 kilometers northwest of Port-Olry, at a shallow depth of about 10 kilometers.

Impacts: The quake was centered offshore in the waters north of Vanuatu, far from the nearest town. No felt reports had been posted and no tsunami was expected from this quake, according to the Geological Survey. No damage reports were available at the time of this report. Vanuatu sits in one of the most seismically active stretches of the South Pacific, and this quake is the latest in a busy run of tremors around the islands in recent days.

What to do:

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

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

- After the shaking stops, check yourself and others for injuries and watch for hazards like broken glass, damaged power lines, and cracked walls.

- Be ready for aftershocks, which can follow a quake like this one and can be strong enough to cause more damage.

- If you are near the coast and feel strong shaking, move to higher ground right away and follow local emergency instructions.

Source: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), October 27, 2026.