Vanuatu: Magnitude-6.2 earthquake strikes offshore of Vanuatu at 1149 Feb. 16

Event

A magnitude-6.2 earthquake occurred in the Coral Sea, west of Shefa Province, Vanuatu, at around 1149 VUT Feb. 16. The epicenter was about 90 km (56 miles) west of Port Vila. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 10 km (6 miles) and likely produced strong shaking near the epicenter, including in Malampa and Shefa provinces. Moderate-to-light shaking probably occurred throughout the rest of Vanuatu. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties, but some damage is possible. 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.