Vanuatu struck by strong quake; aftershocks expected to fade
A 6.9 magnitude earthquake off northern Vanuatu on Saturday was followed by strong aftershocks that experts say are dying down.
A strong earthquake struck north of Vanuatu on Saturday, initially recorded as magnitude 7.2 before being revised to 6.9. Video showed villagers on Hiu in the Torres Islands securing boats as the tide rose in response to the quake.
No damage or injuries were reported across communities in northern Vanuatu. The earthquake triggered a series of strong aftershocks through the weekend.
Mark Stirling, chair of Earthquake Science at the University of Otago, said the aftershock sequence is tailing off and expects no stronger activity to follow. The activity is typical of a quake winding down, not building toward something larger.
- 6.9
- Magnitude
- 7.2
- Initial report
- Northern Vanuatu
- Location
- Mark Stirling, University of Otago
- Expert
Why it mattersThe quake caused no reported damage or injuries in the region; experts expect aftershock activity to continue fading.
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