Vanuatu: Magnitude-6.2 earthquake strikes offshore of Tafea Province at 1737 Feb. 18

Event

A magnitude-6.2 earthquake occurred in the Coral Sea, west of Shefa Province, Vanuatu, at 1737 VUT Feb. 18. The epicenter was about 148 km (92 miles) south southwest of Port Vila. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 10 km (6 miles) and likely produced strong shaking near the epicenter, including Tafea Province. Moderate-to-light shaking may have occurred throughout the rest of Vanuatu and the Loyalty Islands in New Caledonia. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties. It could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas. Aftershocks are likely over the coming days. The temblor did not trigger a tsunami warning.

Officials may temporarily shut down transportation infrastructure in the tremor zone to check for damage. Minor disruptions could occur during shutdowns, but service will likely resume quickly if no damage is found. Utility outages are possible, particularly near the earthquake's epicenter.

Advice

Plan accordingly for aftershocks. Consider vacating multistory buildings if operating in affected areas until authorities confirm their structural integrity. Allow additional time for air and road travel, as aftershocks may prompt brief disruptions. Seek updated information on road conditions before driving in hilly areas in the affected region due to potential landslides.