Wallis and Futuna: Magnitude-5.1 earthquake strikes offshore of Wallis and Futuna Jan. 26

Event

A magnitude-5.1 earthquake struck in the Pacific Ocean southwest of Wallis and Futuna and northeast of Fiji around 0842 Jan. 26. The epicenter was about 62 km (101 miles) south-southwest of Leava, Wallis and Futuna, and 145 km (90 miles) east-northeast of Vanua Levu, Fiji. The quake struck at a depth of 10 km (6 miles) and may have produced weak-to-light shaking in nearby areas. There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties resulting from the shaking; severe damage is unlikely. Aftershocks are possible. Officials did not issue a tsunami warning for the event.

Officials may temporarily shut down transportation networks in the tremor zone to check for damage, triggering transport disruptions; service will likely resume quickly if authorities do not find damage. Utility outages may occur, particularly near the earthquake's epicenter.

Advice

Out of an abundance of caution, vacate multistoried buildings or unreinforced structures in areas where shaking occurred. Confirm travel plans due to the potential for temporary disruptions. Seek updated information on road conditions before driving in hilly areas in the affected area.