Port-Olry, Vanuatu — A magnitude 5.3 earthquake struck off the north coast of Vanuatu early Tuesday morning, the latest in an ongoing series of tremors shaking the island nation's northern waters.

What happened: The quake hit at 1:29 AM Central time (6:29 UTC) about 209 kilometers northwest of Port-Olry, at a depth of roughly 10 kilometers. The U.S. Geological Survey reports no tsunami threat from this event, and no felt reports have come in — the epicenter sits well offshore, far from any town.

Impacts: This area has been rumbling for days, with a string of moderate to strong quakes — including a magnitude 6.3 — rattling the same patch of ocean northwest of Port-Olry. This 5.3 adds to that swarm. Given the distance from land and the depth, shaking at the surface would have been minor if felt at all, and no damage is expected.

What to do:

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

- Watch for aftershocks, which often follow a quake like this within hours.

- Check your home for hazards: gas smells, cracked walls, and anything that could fall.

- If you are on the coast and feel strong, long-lasting shaking, move to higher ground immediately.

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