# Twin M5.7 Earthquakes Strike Off Vanuatu

**Port-Olry, Vanuatu —** Two magnitude 5.7 earthquakes shook the sea floor off northern Vanuatu within minutes of each other Monday afternoon, rattling a remote stretch of the South Pacific.

**What happened:** The first quake struck at 1:52 PM Central time, centered about 198 kilometers northwest of Port-Olry at a depth of 10 kilometers. A second magnitude 5.7 followed at 1:55 PM Central, centered about 203 kilometers west-northwest of Port-Olry, also at 10 kilometers deep. The U.S. Geological Survey has reviewed both events. No tsunami alert has been issued.

**Impacts:** The epicenters sit far offshore in sparsely populated waters, and there are no immediate reports of damage or injuries. Shaking of this strength can be felt across a wide area of the northern Vanuatu islands.

**What to do:**

- If you felt shaking, check your home for cracks, gas leaks and fallen objects before resuming normal activity.

- Be ready for aftershocks — strong earthquakes are often followed by more shaking in the hours and days ahead.

- Follow guidance from local disaster officials, not rumors on social media.

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