Port-Olry, Vanuatu —

What happened: A magnitude 4.9 earthquake struck near the northern islands of Vanuatu at 10:22 this morning Central Time (3:22 tomorrow morning local time). The U.S. Geological Survey places the epicenter about 208 kilometers west-northwest of Port-Olry, at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers. This is the second magnitude 4.9 quake to strike the same area this morning — the first hit at 9:35 AM Central Time.

Impacts: A shallow quake this close to the surface can shake harder than a deeper one of the same size. USGS has flagged no tsunami threat, and no felt reports or damage had been recorded as of this writing.

What to do:

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

- Stay clear of windows and anything heavy that could fall.

- After the shaking, check for hazards like damaged wiring or unstable structures.

- Aftershocks are possible — be ready to take cover again.

*Source: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), October 21, 2026.*