A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Vanuatu on Thursday, October 8, 2026, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), with the shallow tremor recorded about 102 kilometres northeast of Norsup.
The earthquake occurred at 9:00:07 a.m. UTC at a depth of 10 kilometres, according to the USGS earthquake catalogue. The agency listed the event as a magnitude 6.3 earthquake located at approximately 15.541°S, 168.189°E.
The tremor was in the Malampa area of Vanuatu, a Pacific island nation located in one of the world’s seismically active regions. Initial reports from international seismic monitoring systems indicated that the earthquake was shallow, meaning the shaking could be more pronounced near the epicentre than it would be for an earthquake of similar strength occurring much deeper underground.
The USGS placed the event at a green PAGER alert level, indicating a low likelihood of significant casualties or damage based on its initial impact assessment. However, earthquake impact assessments can change as additional information and reports become available.
At the time of reporting, there were no confirmed reports of major damage or casualties linked to the earthquake. Anadolu Agency, citing the USGS, also reported that there were no immediate reports of damage following the tremor.
The earthquake was also recorded by Vanuatu’s own geological monitoring service. The Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-Hazards Department maintains earthquake monitoring for the country and publishes recent seismic activity affecting the islands.
The location was described differently in some early reports. Channels Television, for example, initially reported the epicentre as roughly 110 kilometres east of Luganville, citing the USGS. The latest USGS catalogue entry identifies the event more precisely as 102 kilometres northeast of Norsup, and that updated location is used in this report.
Vanuatu is particularly vulnerable to earthquakes because of its location in the seismically active Pacific region. The country has experienced several significant earthquakes in recent years, including the magnitude 7.3 earthquake that struck near Port Vila in December 2024 and caused deaths and extensive damage.
The latest 6.3-magnitude event is therefore being monitored closely, particularly because its shallow depth means communities relatively close to the epicentre may have experienced noticeable shaking. The USGS earthquake monitoring system continues to update its assessment as additional seismic and public reports are received.
The Daily NewsHub will continue to update this report if Vanuatu authorities or other reliable sources confirm casualties, structural damage, tsunami-related warnings or other significant effects from the earthquake.