Overall Green Earthquake in Vanuatu Islands on 20 Oct 2026 04:20 UTC

GDACS is a cooperation framework between the United Nations, the European Commission and disaster managers worldwide to improve awareness, information exchange and coordination in the first phase after major sudden-onset disasters.

M 6.3 in Vanuatu Islands on 20 Oct 2026 04:20 UTC

Global Telecommunication Service

GTS (Global Telecommunication Service) is the official Warning and Alerting channel by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) adopted by several Warning Organizations. As soon as a new GTS message regarding Tropical Cyclones(WT) or Tsunami(WE) the messages are processed and possibly assigned to the specific event. When a new GTS message is present an new tab in the specific event report page is present.The presence of a GTS message is shown in the homepage with a dedicated icon.

Click on the messages list to visualize on the right the detailed text.

Measurements Levels

SOURCE	GAUGE LOCATION	LAT	LON	TIME (UTC)	HEIGHT (m)	PERIOD (min)

20/10 04:39 WEPA40RJTD200439

20/10 04:36 WEIO24AMMC200435

20/10 04:32 WEAK53PAAQ200431

20/10 04:29 WEPA42PHEB200429

2026-10-20 04:39 message from JMA link

Key information extracted from original GTS message :

Evaluation

There is a very small possibility of a destructive local TSUNAMI estimation at forecast points - no TSUNAMI waves with an amplitude of 0.3 meters or more are expected at any forecast point
However in some coastal areas (particularly near the epicenter) higher TSUNAMI waves than estimated MAY arrive
Authorities should be aware of this possibility
This will be the final bulletin unless changes in the potential for TSUNAMI generation are deemed possible based on earthquake re-evaluation or reports indicating TSUNAMI observation are received

Original Message :

WEPA40 RJTD 200439
TSUNAMI BULLETIN NUMBER 001
ISSUED BY NWPTAC(JMA)
ISSUED AT 0439Z 20 OCT 2026
PART 01 OF 01 PARTS

HYPOCENTRAL PARAMETERS
ORIGIN TIME:0421Z 20 OCT 2026
PRELIMINARY EPICENTER:LAT13.9SOUTH LON165.7EAST
VANUATU ISLANDS
VANUATU ISLANDS
MAG:6.6

EVALUATION
THERE IS A VERY SMALL POSSIBILITY OF A DESTRUCTIVE LOCAL TSUNAMI

ESTIMATION AT FORECAST POINTS - NO TSUNAMI WAVES WITH AN AMPLITUDE
OF 0.3 METERS OR MORE ARE EXPECTED AT ANY FORECAST POINT.

HOWEVER, IN SOME COASTAL AREAS (PARTICULARLY NEAR THE EPICENTER),
HIGHER TSUNAMI WAVES THAN ESTIMATED MAY ARRIVE.
AUTHORITIES SHOULD BE AWARE OF THIS POSSIBILITY.

THIS WILL BE THE FINAL BULLETIN UNLESS CHANGES IN THE POTENTIAL
FOR TSUNAMI GENERATION ARE DEEMED POSSIBLE BASED ON EARTHQUAKE
RE-EVALUATION OR REPORTS INDICATING TSUNAMI OBSERVATION ARE
RECEIVED.

=

2026-10-20 04:36 link

Original Message :

WEIO24 AMMC 200435
---------------------------------------------------------------------
TSUNAMI BULLETIN NOTIFICATION MESSAGE NUMBER 1
IOTWMS TSUNAMI SERVICE PROVIDER AUSTRALIA [JATWC]
ISSUED AT 0435 UTC TUESDAY 20 OCTOBER 2026
---------------------------------------------------------------------
TO: INDIAN OCEAN NATIONAL TSUNAMI WARNING CENTRES [NTWC]
FROM: IOTWMS-TSP AUSTRALIA

NOTIFICATION:
IOTWMS-TSP AUSTRALIA HAS JUST ISSUED TSUNAMI BULLETIN NUMBER 1 FOR
THE INDIAN OCEAN, BASED ON AN EARTHQUAKE WITH THE FOLLOWING DETAILS:

MAGNITUDE: 6.5 Mwp
DEPTH: 18 km
DATE: 20 Oct 2026
ORIGIN TIME: 0420 UTC
LATITUDE: 13.92S
LONGITUDE: 165.68E
LOCATION: Offshore Vanuatu

TO VIEW THE BULLETIN GO TO THE IOTWMS-TSP AUSTRALIA WEBSITE AT:

http://reg.bom.gov.au/tsunami/rtsp

NOTE: THIS IS A RESTRICTED-ACCESS WEBSITE CONTAINING TECHNICAL DATA
FOR INDIAN OCEAN NATIONAL TSUNAMI WARNING CENTRES ONLY. IT IS NOT
FOR GENERAL PUBLIC ACCESS.

GENERAL PUBLIC INFORMATION FOR THIS EVENT IS AVAILABLE FROM:

JOINT AUSTRALIAN TSUNAMI WARNING CENTRE [JATWC]
BUREAU OF METEOROLOGY
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA
http://www.bom.gov.au/tsunami

END OF NOTIFICATION MESSAGE
---------------------------------------------------------------------

2026-10-20 04:32 message from NTWC link

Key information extracted from original GTS message :

Evaluation

There is no TSUNAMI danger for the u s west coast BRITISH columbia or alaska
Based on earthquake information and historic TSUNAMI records the earthquake is not expected to generate a tsunami
An earthquake has occurred with parameters listed below

Original Message :

WEAK53 PAAQ 200431
TIBAK1

Tsunami Information Statement Number 1
NWS National Tsunami Warning Center Palmer AK
931 PM PDT Mon Oct 19 2026

...THIS IS A TSUNAMI INFORMATION STATEMENT FOR ALASKA, BRITISH
COLUMBIA, WASHINGTON, OREGON AND CALIFORNIA...

EVALUATION
----------
* There is no tsunami danger for the U.S. West Coast, British
Columbia, or Alaska.

* Based on earthquake information and historic tsunami records,
the earthquake is not expected to generate a tsunami.

* An earthquake has occurred with parameters listed below.

PRELIMINARY EARTHQUAKE PARAMETERS
---------------------------------

* The following parameters are based on a rapid preliminary
assessment of the earthquake and changes may occur.

* Magnitude 6.6
* Origin Time 2021 AKDT Oct 19 2026
2121 PDT Oct 19 2026
0421 UTC Oct 20 2026
* Coordinates 13.9 South 165.7 East
* Depth 6 miles
* Location near the Vanuatu Islands

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND NEXT UPDATE
--------------------------------------
* Refer to the internet site tsunami.gov for more information.

* Pacific coastal regions outside California, Oregon, Washington,
British Columbia, and Alaska should refer to the Pacific Tsunami
Warning Center messages at tsunami.gov.

* This will be the only U.S. National Tsunami Warning Center
message issued for this event unless additional information
becomes available.

$$

2026-10-20 04:29 message from NTWC link

Key information extracted from original GTS message :

Evaluation

An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.6 occurred in the VANUATU ISLANDS at 0421 UTC on tuesday OCTOBER 20 2026
Based on all available data there is no TSUNAMI threat from this earthquake

Original Message :

WEPA42 PHEB 200429
TIBPAC

TSUNAMI INFORMATION STATEMENT NUMBER 1
NWS PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER HONOLULU HI
0429 UTC TUE OCT 20 2026

...PTWC TSUNAMI INFORMATION STATEMENT...

**** NOTICE **** NOTICE **** NOTICE **** NOTICE **** NOTICE *****

THIS STATEMENT IS ISSUED FOR INFORMATION ONLY IN SUPPORT OF THE
UNESCO/IOC PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING AND MITIGATION SYSTEM AND IS
MEANT FOR NATIONAL AUTHORITIES IN EACH COUNTRY OF THAT SYSTEM.

NATIONAL AUTHORITIES WILL DETERMINE THE APPROPRIATE LEVEL OF
ALERT FOR EACH COUNTRY AND MAY ISSUE ADDITIONAL OR MORE REFINED
INFORMATION.

**** NOTICE **** NOTICE **** NOTICE **** NOTICE **** NOTICE *****

PRELIMINARY EARTHQUAKE PARAMETERS
---------------------------------

* MAGNITUDE 6.6
* ORIGIN TIME 0421 UTC OCT 20 2026
* COORDINATES 13.9 SOUTH 165.7 EAST
* DEPTH 10 KM / 6 MILES
* LOCATION VANUATU

EVALUATION
----------

* AN EARTHQUAKE WITH A PRELIMINARY MAGNITUDE OF 6.6 OCCURRED IN
THE VANUATU ISLANDS AT 0421 UTC ON TUESDAY OCTOBER 20 2026.

* BASED ON ALL AVAILABLE DATA... THERE IS NO TSUNAMI THREAT
FROM THIS EARTHQUAKE.

RECOMMENDED ACTIONS
-------------------

* NO ACTION IS REQUIRED.

NEXT UPDATE AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
--------------------------------------

* THIS WILL BE THE ONLY STATEMENT ISSUED FOR THIS EVENT UNLESS
ADDITIONAL DATA ARE RECEIVED OR THE SITUATION CHANGES.

* AUTHORITATIVE INFORMATION ABOUT THE EARTHQUAKE FROM THE U.S.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CAN BE FOUND ON THE INTERNET AT
EARTHQUAKE.USGS.GOV.

* FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THIS EVENT MAY BE FOUND AT
WWW.TSUNAMI.GOV.

* COASTAL REGIONS OF HAWAII... AMERICAN SAMOA... GUAM... AND
CNMI SHOULD REFER TO PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER MESSAGES
SPECIFICALLY FOR THOSE PLACES THAT CAN BE FOUND AT
WWW.TSUNAMI.GOV.

* COASTAL REGIONS OF CALIFORNIA... OREGON... WASHINGTON...
BRITISH COLUMBIA AND ALASKA SHOULD ONLY REFER TO U.S.
NATIONAL TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER MESSAGES THAT CAN BE FOUND
AT WWW.TSUNAMI.GOV.

$$

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