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M5.0 Earthquake near 194 km WNW of Port-Olry, Vanuatu

UTC time: 2026-10-21 14:56:27 UTC Local time: —

Magnitude

M5.0

Depth: 10.0 km
Source: USGS

194 km WNW of Port-Olry, Vanuatu

Map

About this earthquake

On October 21, 2026 at 14:56 UTC, a magnitude M5.0 earthquake occurred near 194 km WNW of Port-Olry, Vanuatu. The hypocenter lay relatively close to the surface at around 10 km, increasing how strongly it was felt. Events of this size can cause damage near the epicenter.

The data is provided by USGS and cross-checked across seismological networks.

Details

2ec9eb08d2378d54d90f7acbc0d29be01b33be12

Magnitude

M5.0

Depth

10.0 km

UTC time

2026-10-21 14:56:27 UTC

Local time

—

Country

—

Source

usgs

Coordinates

-14.10500, 165.54020

Temperature

25.6°C

Depth profile

Shallow

10 km

Why depth matters

Shallow quakes release energy near the surface — shaking is felt more strongly and damage potential is higher.

Depth classes per USGS

Tectonic context

Located on the Australia Plate.

Near the boundary New Hebrides ↔ Australia · about 73 km away

Nearby population centers

Distances are straight-line distances from the epicenter. Population data: GeoNames.

PlaceDistanceDirectionPopulation

Port Vila508.9 kmSE35'901

GeoNames · CC BY 4.0

Volcanoes nearby

Suretamatai

Distance: 211 km ·Complex ·Elevation: 921 m ·Last eruption: 1966 ·Vanuatu
Gaua

Distance: 214 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 729 m ·Last eruption: 2022 ·Vanuatu
Motlav

Distance: 235 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 411 m ·Vanuatu
Ambae Activity reported

Distance: 285 km ·Shield ·Elevation: 1'496 m ·Last eruption: 2026 ·Vanuatu
Ambrym Activity reported

Distance: 365 km ·Shield(pyroclastic) ·Elevation: 1'334 m ·Last eruption: 2024 ·Vanuatu
Lopevi

Distance: 402 km ·Stratovolcano ·Elevation: 1'413 m ·Last eruption: 2007 ·Vanuatu

Subsequent earthquakes nearby

Events recorded after this earthquake within 150 km. They are not automatically classified as aftershocks.

First 6 hours2

First 24 hours3

First 72 hours35

Strongest subsequent eventM6.9

M4.92026-10-21 15:22:33 UTC17.6 kmVANUATU M4.72026-10-21 18:40:32 UTC13.2 km202 km WNW of Port-Olry, Vanuatu M4.92026-10-22 12:22:57 UTC23.6 kmVANUATU M5.22026-10-23 22:05:09 UTC59.8 kmVanuatu Islands M4.52026-10-24 00:27:44 UTC15.5 kmVANUATU M6.92026-10-24 02:31:28 UTC5.5 km###.# km ( ###.# mi) WSW (az= 253.1) from Quartzsite, AZ M6.32026-10-24 02:35:57 UTC35.9 km###.# km ( ###.# mi) WSW (az= 252.9) from Quartzsite, AZ M5.32026-10-24 03:05:48 UTC31.4 kmOffshore Vanuatu M5.32026-10-24 03:08:44 UTC52.6 kmVanuatu Islands M5.52026-10-24 03:14:54 UTC18.3 kmVanuatu Islands M5.32026-10-24 03:17:54 UTC51.5 kmVanuatu Islands M5.02026-10-24 03:51:34 UTC31.4 kmVanuatu Islands

Comparison of seismic sources

4 sources currently report magnitudes from M5.0 to M5.1.

Measurements can differ because agencies use different networks and calculation methods. Values may be revised.

SourceMagnitudeDepthPosition difference

GFZM5.110.0 km48.4 km

EMSCM5.010.0 km0.0 km

USGSM5.010.0 km0.0 km

GAM5.010.0 km11.7 km

No unambiguous area assignment

Context for this earthquake

This event has no unambiguous country assignment in the analysed catalogue. It is therefore not assigned to a regional profile.

Earthquake overview

Historical context nearby

Comparison with recorded earthquakes before this event within 150 km.

Magnitude rank#27

Earlier events M≥459

Earlier events M≥533

Compared since2025-01-26

The QuakeMap24 comparison dataset begins on 2024-03-23. Earlier earthquakes may not be included.

Strongest earlier events

M6.62026-10-20 04:20:37 UTC18.2 km195 km NW of Port-Olry, Vanuatu M6.42026-02-14 02:27:37 UTC143.9 kmSanma M6.42026-02-14 02:27:37 UTC143.9 kmSanma M6.22026-10-19 07:49:05 UTC24.2 kmVanuatu Islands M6.02026-07-24 21:37:56 UTC103.1 kmTorba

Stats (last 24h)

Global (24h)

718

Country (24h)

—

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