Magnitude 6.4 earthquake strikes Vanuatu’s outer islands

A magnitude 6.4 earthquake has struck Vanuatu near the outer island of Isangel as reported by the United States Geological Survey.

The quake occurred at a shallow depth of 10 kilometres on Tuesday morning at around 9.47, local time.

Residents in the capital, Port Vila, described the tremors as mild.

The earthquake follows a series of seismic activities affecting the island nation, including an initial 5.7 magnitude quake near the outer island of Sola in April. This event was later revised down to a 6.6 magnitude but did not trigger a tsunami alert.

Sola, located in the Sanma Province, has a population of 1437 people and can be reached by plane from Port Vila.

These recent tremors are a reminder of the tragic 7.3-magnitude earthquake that struck near Port Vila in December 2024, which resulted in 14 people killed, over 200 injured, and thousands displaced.

Isangel is a town in Vanuatu. Located on the island of Tanna, it is the provincial administrative capital of Tafea Province. Photo/Supplied

Vanuatu is situated along the seismically active ‘Ring of Fire’, a tectonic belt of numerous volcanoes and earthquakes. The area, also known as the ‘Circum-Pacific Belt’, is one of the most earthquake-prone zones in the world.

The specific boundary where the Australian Plate meets the Pacific Plate - the site of Tuesday’s earthquake - is among the most active seismic regions globally.

The earthquake last December caused massive disruption. Photo/Supplied

In response to past devastation, New Zealand announced a further $10 million in support aimed at improving preparedness for major earthquakes through geotechnical and engineering assistance, as well as local government response strategies and reconstruction efforts.

This week’s earthquake coincides with the annual Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting taking place in Honiara, Solomon Islands.

Watch footage from Vanuatu’s December earthquake below.