In brief
The GFZ German Research Center for Geosciences reported a 6.1‑magnitude earthquake on the Vanuatu Islands at 11:47 GMT on Sunday. The quake had a focal depth of 10 km and the epicenter was located at 14.14° S, 165.91° E. No further details or damage reports have been released at this time.
A 6.1‑magnitude earthquake jolted the Vanuatu Islands Sunday at 11:47 GMT, according to the GFZ German Research Center for Geosciences. The German institute released the data immediately via a brief report on the cause of the shaking.
The GFZ calculated a focal depth of 10 km for the seismic event, placing it within the shallow crustal layers that frequently produce strong surface shaking.
The epicenter was identified at coordinates 14.14° S latitude and 165.91° E longitude, putting the quake in the central sector of the archipelago and near several inhabited islands.
Shakemaps and preliminary intensity estimates are being compiled by the GFZ and local authorities, but no official statements on damage or casualties were released with the initial bulletin.
Xinhua confirmed the GFZ findings in a short coverage note, noting only the technical details of the magnitude, depth, and epicenter location while awaiting further analysis from Vanuatu’s disaster management agencies.
