M 5.3 Moderate Earthquake Strikes South of the Fiji Islands
A moderate 5.3 magnitude earthquake occurred at a significant depth south of the Fiji Islands on February 25, 2026, with no tsunami threat reported.
What Happened
A moderate magnitude 5.3 (mb) earthquake occurred south of the Fiji Islands on February 25, 2026, at 07:54:01 UTC. The event is classified as a “moderate earthquake,” a category that can cause damage to poorly constructed buildings, though its impact is heavily influenced by its extreme depth.
Location Details
The earthquake was centered at coordinates 21.8475°S, 179.4956°E. The seismic activity originated at a depth of 634.6 km. This is classified as a deep earthquake, as it occurred significantly below the 70 km threshold for deep-focus events. Such deep earthquakes are common in this region of the South Pacific due to tectonic subduction.
Impact Assessment
At this time, there are no felt reports associated with this event. No tsunami advisory, watch, or warning has been issued (tsunami: 0). There is no alert level color assigned to this event in the current USGS data, and the seismic record has been officially reviewed by a seismologist.
What You Should Know
Deep earthquakes of this nature are routine geological events in the Fiji region and rarely cause damage or significant shaking at the surface. While aftershocks are a possibility following any seismic event, they are less likely to be felt by residents when the main shock occurs at such a great depth.
Source
Data and attribution provided by the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program.
Source: USGS Official Notice