Strong M6.0 earthquake hits Vanuatu
A strong earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.0 hit Vanuatu at 23:37 UTC on July 24, 2026. The agency is reporting a depth of 45 km (28 miles). EMSC is reporting the same magnitude and depth. Vanuatu Meteorology & Geo-hazards Department (VMGD) is reporting M5.9 at a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles).
Epicenter of M6.0 earthquake in Vanuatu on July 24, 2026. Credit: TW/SAM, Google
The epicenter was located 83 km (51 miles) W of Sola (population 1 171), 171 km (106 miles) NNW of Luganville (population 13 397), 444 km (276 miles) NNW of Port-Vila (population 35 901), Vanuatu, and 768 km (477 miles) N of Wé (population 10 375), New Caledonia.
According to USGS PAGER, 23 000 people are estimated to have felt light shaking and 91 000 weak.
There is no tsunami warning, advisory, watch, or threat in effect.
The USGS issued a Green alert for shaking-related fatalities and economic losses. There is a low likelihood of casualties and damage.
Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are highly vulnerable to earthquake shaking, though some resistant structures exist. The predominant vulnerable building types are unknown or miscellaneous types and wood construction.
Recent earthquakes in this area have caused secondary hazards such as landslides that might have contributed to losses.
Liquefaction triggered by this earthquake is considered unlikely, with little or no area and population affected. Landslides triggered by this earthquake are also considered unlikely, with little or no area and population affected.
According to VMGD data, this earthquake was preceded by two M5.6 events in the same area at 23:19 UTC. USGS is reporting one M5.1 earthquake at 23:19 UTC.
Estimated population exposure to earthquake shaking
Selected cities exposed
Regional seismicity
References:
1 M6.0 earthquake Vanuatu – USGS – July 24, 2026
2 M6.0 earthquake Vanuatu – EMSC – July 24, 2026
I'm a dedicated researcher, journalist, and editor at The Watchers. With over 20 years of experience in the media industry, I specialize in hard science news, focusing on extreme weather, seismic and volcanic activity, space weather, and astronomy, including near-Earth objects and planetary defense strategies. You can reach me at teo /at/ watchers.news.
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