A viral Facebook post going around today claiming a strong earthquake will hit the Pacific in the next 3 to 7 days has caused fear and confusion across Vanuatu, especially in the wake of the powerful December 17 earthquake.

In response, the Vanuatu Meteorology and Geo-Hazards Department (VMGD) has clarified that no one can predict exactly when or where an earthquake will happen.

Despite major advancements in science and technology, VMGD says there is still no tool that can provide early warnings for earthquakes with specific timing or location.

The department has labelled the Facebook post as misleading and untrue, reminding the public that Vanuatu sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a highly active seismic zone where earthquakes and volcanic activity can occur at any time.

VMGD is urging people to rely only on official information from their department and to avoid spreading unverified reports from social media platforms.