An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.2 jolted an area 200 kilometres northwest of Port‑Olry in Vanuatu at 2242 GMT on Saturday, the U.S. Geological Survey said.
Impact and Seismic Context
The event was recorded at a shallow depth of 10 kilometres beneath the sea floor. The depth is considered relatively shallow, meaning that the shaking felt at the surface was stronger than if the fault were deeper. The U.S. Geological Survey noted that no injuries or damage were reported in the announcement.
Because the quake was located offshore, the brief notice did not mention potential damage to coastal infrastructure or offshore installations. The report did not include any statements about tsunami generation, which is consistent with the description of the event as a minor, localized tremor.
Details of the Epicenter
The epicentre of the event was initially listed at latitude 13.87 degrees south and longitude 165.65 degrees east. These coordinates place the seismic focus in the Coral Sea, roughly 200 kilometres to the north‑west of the Vanuatu capital of Port‑Olry. The measurement of latitude and longitude allows seismologists to pinpoint the epicentre in three‑dimensional space.
The coordinates can be interpreted relative to Vanuatu’s main islands. The island chain lies between latitudes 13 and 22 degrees south, and longitudes 165 and 173 degrees east. Thus the quake’s epicentre lies slightly to the north‑west of the island chain, in the open sea.
The U.S. Geological Survey’s report states that the epicentre was “initially determined to be at 13.87 degrees south latitude and 165.65 degrees east longitude.” This statement confirms the preliminary nature of the location data, acknowledging that further analysis may refine the position details.
The magnitude of the event was measured at 5.2 on the Richter scale. This scale classifies the earthquake as moderate, capable of producing noticeable shaking in nearby communities but unlikely to cause extensive damage in lightly built areas.
Timewise, the quake struck at 2242 GMT, a time that corresponds to 09:42 on the morning of November 2 local time in Port‑Olry. This timing places the event squarely in the night hours for many Pacific islanders, a period during which individuals are typically indoors at rest.
The United States Geological Survey’s briefing did not mention any follow-up seismic activity. While the source noted the initial deeper determination, it did not specify whether aftershocks were expected or recorded immediately after the main shock.
Overall, the bulletin provides a concise snapshot of a modest seismic event that was recorded near Vanuatu but did not result in known injuries or damage. The U.S. Geological Survey’s report gives a clear picture of the magnitude, depth, and precise geographic coordinates of the quake, but leaves open questions regarding any further impacts a future or imminent aftershock campaign might reveal.
