Shallow earthquake strikes at sea off Vanuatu; magnitude reported as 6.9 or 7.2

An earthquake struck at sea off the coast of Vanuatu in the South Pacific. Reuters, The Hindu, AP, Anadolu and TASS all reported the quake.

The earthquake occurred at a depth of 10 km, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), as cited by Reuters and The Hindu. Reuters and The Hindu named the USGS as the source of their measurements. AP's summary, which is truncated, attributes its figure to "the U.S." before cutting off.

Location and timing

According to Reuters, citing the USGS, the quake struck about 200 km (124 miles) west of Sola, Vanuatu. According to The Hindu, citing the USGS, it was centred 197 km (122 miles) west-northwest of Port-Orly.

The Hindu reported that the quake struck at around 1:30 p.m. The report does not specify the time zone.

Tsunami warning and aftershocks

A tsunami warning was issued for the area and later rescinded, according to The Hindu. The report does not say which authority issued or withdrew it.

Several aftershocks were recorded, including a preliminary magnitude 6.3 quake, according to The Hindu, citing the USGS.

There were no immediate reports of damage, according to The Hindu.

What is disputed

• Magnitude. Reuters, citing the USGS, reported magnitude 7.2. A TASS headline also gave 7.2 without naming a source. Both reports carry earlier timestamps (03:10 and 03:15 UTC). The Hindu, citing the USGS, reported a preliminary magnitude of 6.9, as did AP in a truncated summary attributing the figure to "the U.S." An Anadolu headline also gave 6.9 without naming a source. These reports carry later timestamps (03:41 to 05:33 UTC).
• Day. Reuters and AP said the quake occurred on Saturday. The Hindu said it occurred on Friday, 23 October 2026.

What each side says

• USGS, as reported by Reuters: a magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck about 200 km west of Sola, Vanuatu, at a depth of 10 km.
• USGS, as reported by The Hindu: a preliminary magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck 197 km west-northwest of Port-Orly at a depth of 10 km, followed by aftershocks including a preliminary magnitude 6.3 quake. AP's truncated summary also gave a preliminary magnitude of 6.9.

What remains unclear

The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not say whether the USGS revised its magnitude estimate, or why the figures differ. They do not give the sources behind the Anadolu and TASS figures. They do not describe casualties or damage beyond The Hindu's statement. They do not include any statement from Vanuatu's government or emergency authorities. They do not say what area the tsunami warning covered. The AP report available to Vocemundi is a truncated summary.

Analysis

The gap between the earlier 7.2 figures and the later 6.9 figures could reflect a revised preliminary estimate, which is common in the first hours after a quake. However, the reports do not confirm this. The Hindu reported that the quake prompted a tsunami warning that was later rescinded, but the reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not explain why the warning was issued or withdrawn. The absence of immediate damage reports is an early indication, not a final assessment. Statements from Vanuatu's authorities and updated USGS data would help clarify the magnitude, the timing and any effects on land.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.