Vanuatu: Magnitude-6.8 offshore earthquake occurs in Vanuatu at around 21:10 Aug. 18

Event

A magnitude-6.8 offshore earthquake occurred in the South Pacific Ocean off Vanuatu at around 21:10 Aug. 18. The epicenter was about 19 km (12 miles) northwest of Port-Olry, Vanuatu. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 84 km (52 miles), and strong to moderate shaking was probably felt throughout Vanuatu. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties as a result of the earthquake; however, significant damage is possible. It could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas. Moderate aftershocks are likely over the coming days.

Authorities have issued a tsunami warning for the Vanuatu coasts within 300 km (186 miles) from the epicenter. According to the warning, hazardous tsunami waves are possible over the coming hours.

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

Move away from the immediate coastline; tsunamis can be long-duration events, and the threat may persist for hours. Vacate multistoried buildings or unreinforced structures in areas where strong shaking occurred; aftershocks could cause additional damage. Cellular networks may be overwhelmed; use text messaging if services are available. Due to the threat of landslides, seek updated information on road conditions before driving in hilly areas in the affected area.