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M6.3 earthquake — 197 km NW of Port-Olry, Vanuatu

📍 Vanuatu · since 20 Oct 2026

Source: USGS Earthquake Hazards Program ↗
Source updated: 20 Oct 2026, 06:28 UTC
Event start (source): 20 Oct 2026, 04:20 UTC
Last checked: 25 Oct 2026, 03:30 UTC
Last change ingested: 20 Oct 2026, 06:30 UTC

At a glance

What happened: Earthquake — Magnitude 6.3, depth 16 km. USGS PAGER green.
Where: Vanuatu (-13.99, 165.59 per source)
When: Began 20 Oct 2026, 04:20 UTC
Who is affected: People in Vanuatu. USGS estimates the likely impact at PAGER green (a model, not a count).
Has it escalated?: Only one observation of the source alert level so far.
Latest development: No dated reports matched yet.

What the source confirmsFacts · from USGS Earthquake Hazards Program

Alert: USGS PAGER green — source record ↗
Severity (source's statement): Magnitude 6.3, depth 16 km
USGS PAGER impact estimate: green USGS event page ↗
Tsunami flag: USGS flags this event for possible tsunami relevance — check your national warning centre.
Start: 20 Oct 2026, 04:20 UTC

Reported, not independently verifiedNews organisations

No news reports matched to this event in the last 30 days.

TimelineNewest first · UTC · grey = older than 7 days

20 Oct 2026, 05:00 UTC · RedAlertDirect
First recorded by RedAlertDirect.
20 Oct 2026, 04:58 UTC
USGS Earthquake Hazards Program alert level: green.
20 Oct 2026, 04:20 UTC
Event began, according to USGS Earthquake Hazards Program.

AssessmentRule-based · not a measurement

Watch USGS PAGER green — the source expects a low impact.

Factor	Rating	Basis	Why
Hazard severity USGS Earthquake Hazards Program: Magnitude 6.3, depth 16 km	Low	Source	USGS Earthquake Hazards Program: Magnitude 6.3, depth 16 km
Geographic spread 1 country listed by the source: Vanuatu.	Low	Rule on source data	1 country listed by the source: Vanuatu.
Escalation Only one observation of the source alert level so far.	Not rated	Not assessed	Only one observation of the source alert level so far.
Civilian impact USGS PAGER green: a model estimate of likely fatalities, not a count.	Low	Source	USGS PAGER green: a model estimate of likely fatalities, not a count.
Economic impact USGS PAGER green: a model estimate of likely economic losses, not a count.	Low	Source	USGS PAGER green: a model estimate of likely economic losses, not a count.
Displacement No structured, authoritative source for this factor; not rated.	Not rated	Not assessed	No structured, authoritative source for this factor; not rated.
Infrastructure No structured, authoritative source for this factor; not rated.	Not rated	Not assessed	No structured, authoritative source for this factor; not rated.
International involvement No structured, authoritative source for this factor; not rated.	Not rated	Not assessed	No structured, authoritative source for this factor; not rated.
Uncertainty Impact estimates are modelled by the source and may be revised.	Medium	Rule on source data	Impact estimates are modelled by the source and may be revised.

Ratings marked “Source” restate the source. “Rule on source data” applies a published rule (see methodology). Nothing here is produced by a language model.