Vanuatu: A magnitude-6.3 offshore earthquake occurs southwest of Efate Island at around 01:43 Jan. 24

A magnitude-6.3 earthquake occurred in the Coral Sea off the southwest coast of Vanuatu's Efate Island at around 01:33 Jan. 24. The epicenter was about 44 km (27 miles) southwest of Port Vila. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 37 km (23 miles), and moderate shaking was probably felt in southwestern coastal areas of Efate Island, as well as light shaking throughout much of the rest of Vanuatu. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties as a result of the earthquake; however, significant damage is unlikely. It could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas. Moderate aftershocks are likely over the coming days. The event has not prompted any tsunami advisories.

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.