Shallow Earthquake 200 Km From Sola

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported that a magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck offshore Vanuatu, an island nation in the South Pacific Ocean, on Saturday (24/10/2026). The tremor occurred at 02:31 UTC or 13:31 local time — equivalent to 09:31 WIB (Western Indonesian Time).

The epicenter was located about 200 kilometers west of Sola, Vanuatu, at a depth of just 10 kilometers below sea level. Shallow earthquakes such as this tend to be felt more intensely and have the potential to cause greater damage compared to deeper quakes of the same magnitude.

As of the initial report, the USGS had received only two felt reports from residents. The affected region is a sparsely populated island area in northern Vanuatu, and initial earthquake parameters remain automated pending analyst review.

Tsunami Warning Within 300 Km Radius

The Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) issued a tsunami threat message following the earthquake. Based on initial assessments, hazardous tsunami waves could reach coastal areas within a 300-kilometer radius of the epicenter.

As of this initial report, there is no information regarding casualties or damage resulting from the earthquake. Authorities continue to monitor the situation on the ground.

Vanuatu lies on the boundary between the Australia and Pacific tectonic plates, making it prone to earthquakes. In the past 30 days alone, 25 earthquakes above the reporting threshold have been recorded within a 250-kilometer radius of this epicenter, the largest measuring magnitude 6.9.