Vanuatu Quake Triggers Tsunami Alert, Later Rescinded

On Saturday, a powerful preliminary magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck the waters off Vanuatu , prompting immediate concern across the South Pacific. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported the tremor just minutes after it occurred, leading local authorities and regional monitoring agencies to issue a tsunami warning for nearby coastlines. By early evening, the alert had been lifted after detailed analysis showed no destructive waves were generated.

Magnitude and Epicenter Details

The quake, recorded at approximately 1:30 p.m. local time, was centered roughly 197 kilometers (122 miles) west‑northwest of Port Olry . Its depth was shallow, around 10 km (6 miles) beneath the sea surface, a configuration that often heightens shaking intensity on nearby islands. The preliminary magnitude of 6.9 placed the event among the stronger temblors the region experiences in an average year.

Initial USGS data flagged a series of aftershocks almost immediately, ...