Powerful earthquake shakes Vanuatu as communities brace and officials assess impact

A powerful 7.3-magnitude earthquake has shaken northern Vanuatu, sending strong tremors through communities and prompting urgent checks on damage.

The quake struck on Monday evening near Luganville, one of the country’s largest towns, and was widely felt across several provinces.

The quake follows another strong 7.6 magnitude earthquake near Tonga on 24 March, which was widely felt but caused no major damage and no tsunami threat due to its depth.

Vanuatu is still recovering from a devastating 7.3 magnitude earthquake in December 2024 that killed at least 14 people, injured hundreds, and disrupted the lives of tens of thousands across the islands.

The United States Geological Survey said Monday's earthquake hit about 35 kilometres northeast of Luganville at a depth of around 115km.

It struck at about 7.45pm local time (9.45pm NZT), with a second smaller magnitude-5 shake recorded shortly after 8pm, about 42km east-north-east of Luganville.

Communities across Sanma, Torba, Penama, and Malampa felt the quake, with early reports showing no major damage or injuries. Photo/Facebook/Arise Vanuatu

Earthquakes at this depth are usually felt across a wide area, and reports from across northern Vanuatu suggest many communities experienced strong shaking.

According to Vanuatu authorities, people in Sanma, Torba, Penama, and Malampa provinces all felt the quake.

Early reports suggest there has been no major damage or injuries, but some disruptions were recorded.

Barick, Central Malekula: Local officials are assessing the impact after the quake, with an urgent meeting called to gather reports from affected areas. Photo/Vanuatu Red Cross Society

Malampa Province president Jeppy Talo told VBTC News that there was no reported damage or injuries in his province, although a power outage lasted about an hour.

No damage has been reported in Torba, while people on Ambae Island described the quake as one of the strongest they have ever felt.

Local officials are now moving quickly to assess the situation.

Johnathan Iavere, head of the Sanma Provincial Disaster and Climate Change Committee, also told VBTC News that an urgent meeting would be held.

“The Committee will convene to quickly assess the damage in the province, and prepare a rapid report to be submitted to the government,” he said.

The US Tsunami Warning Center said there were no tsunami warnings, advisories or threats following the earthquake.

While there are no immediate reports of serious damage, authorities are continuing to monitor the situation as assessments come in from across the islands.

Vanuatu sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, one of the most active earthquake zones in the world.

Strong quakes are not uncommon, but experts say events of this size can still cause significant concern for island communities, especially in remote areas.

Earthquakes like this in the Pacific are a reminder of how quickly natural hazards can affect daily life and the importance of strong local response systems to keep communities safe.

The main image has been replaced after it was identified as not being from this week’s earthquake in Vanuatu. We apologise for the error.