Port-Olry, Vanuatu — A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck off the coast of Vanuatu early this morning, followed minutes later by a magnitude 5.3 aftershock in the same waters.

UPDATE — Monday, October 19, 4:10 AM CT: A magnitude 4.9 aftershock struck 203 kilometers west-northwest of Port-Olry, Vanuatu, at about 2:20 AM CT — roughly half an hour before the 5.9 mainshock — at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers, the U.S. Geological Survey reports.

UPDATE — Monday, October 19, 3:21 AM CT: A magnitude 5.2 aftershock struck about 211 kilometers west-northwest of Port-Olry, Vanuatu, at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers, the U.S. Geological Survey reports. No tsunami threat has been issued for this event. This is the fourth quake to hit the Vanuatu region in under an hour, following the magnitude 5.9 mainshock at about 2:49 AM CT.

Port-Olry, Vanuatu — A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck off the coast of Vanuatu early this morning, followed minutes later by a magnitude 5.3 aftershock in the same waters.

What happened: The first quake hit at 2:49 AM CDT, centered about 185 kilometers northwest of Port-Olry at a depth of 10 kilometers, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Just over six minutes later, at 2:55 AM CDT, a 5.3 aftershock struck roughly 188 kilometers northwest of Port-Olry at the same depth. Both quakes were offshore in the coral sea waters north of Espiritu Santo island.

Impacts: Shaking from the 5.9 measured at intensity 3.9 on the Modified Mercalli scale — light shaking that people feel indoors, strong enough to rattle dishes and windows but generally below the level that damages well-built structures. The USGS issued a green alert, its lowest impact level, and flags no tsunami threat from either quake. No damage or injury reports have surfaced so far.

What to do:

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

- Stay clear of windows, shelves, and anything that can fall.

- Check your home for hazards after the shaking — gas leaks, broken glass, cracked walls.

- Expect aftershocks in the coming hours and days; the same drop-cover-hold routine applies each time.

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

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

**What happened:** The first quake hit at 2:49 AM CDT, centered about 185 kilometers northwest of Port-Olry at a depth of 10 kilometers, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Just over six minutes later, at 2:55 AM CDT, a 5.3 aftershock struck roughly 188 kilometers northwest of Port-Olry at the same depth. Both quakes were offshore in the coral sea waters north of Espiritu Santo island.

**Impacts:** Shaking from the 5.9 measured at intensity 3.9 on the Modified Mercalli scale — light shaking that people feel indoors, strong enough to rattle dishes and windows but generally below the level that damages well-built structures. The USGS issued a green alert, its lowest impact level, and flags no tsunami threat from either quake. No damage or injury reports have surfaced so far.

**What to do:**

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

- Stay clear of windows, shelves, and anything that can fall.

- Check your home for hazards after the shaking — gas leaks, broken glass, cracked walls.

- Expect aftershocks in the coming hours and days; the same drop-cover-hold routine applies each time.

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

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