Magnitude 6.2 Earthquake Strikes Near Port-Olry, Vanuatu, No Damage Reported

A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck near Port-Olry on the island of Espiritu Santo in Vanuatu early on Sunday, the United States Geological Survey reported. There were no reports of damage or injuries, and no tsunami threat was issued.

The quake struck at 02:24 UTC on October 25, about 21 kilometres east of Port-Olry, a coastal settlement on the northeast coast of Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu's largest island. The USGS put the depth at about 136 kilometres, which is deep for the region, and issued a green alert, its lowest level, indicating a low likelihood of casualties or damage.

Other agencies measured the same event slightly differently, which is normal in the first hours after a quake. The German Research Centre for Geosciences, GFZ, put the magnitude at 6.16 and the depth at 125 kilometres, Reuters reported. The depth is the main reason the shaking at the surface stayed limited: the estimated maximum intensity was IV, strong enough to rattle buildings near the epicentre but well below the level that brings down sound structures.

Second strong quake near Espiritu Santo in five days

This is the second strong earthquake recorded near Espiritu Santo in five days. A magnitude 6.3 quake struck on October 20, about 200 kilometres from Port Olry at a shallow depth of 10 kilometres, according to USGS and Reuters reporting at the time. That quake also brought no reports of damage or injuries.

The two events were different in character. The October 20 quake was shallow and offshore. Sunday's quake was centred much closer to the coast but far deeper underground, and depth spread its energy over a wider area at lower intensity.

A country built on a subduction zone

Vanuatu sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, where the Australian Plate dives under the Pacific Plate. The islands record moderate to strong earthquakes every year, and the national disaster system is set up for them. Port-Olry is served by road links to Luganville, the country's second town, and by Santo-Pekoa International Airport, the main air gateway for the northern islands.

Seismic agencies will revise the magnitude and depth figures as more station data arrives. For now, the official picture is a strong but deep quake, one felt report, and no damage. Officials in Vanuatu had issued no casualty or damage reports by Sunday afternoon UTC.