What the record shows for Fiji
The strongest earthquake on record near Fiji is a magnitude 7.9 in 2018, centred 45 km S of Levuka, Fiji - 8 years ago. The event is catalogued by USGS. See the event record.
Over the last 20 years, USGS has catalogued 955 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater within 333 km of Fiji - roughly 48 a year. That rate describes how often the ground moves enough to be recorded, not how often damage occurs; most of these are never felt.
The NOAA NCEI database records 6 tsunamis within 333 km of Fiji between 1881 and 2017. The most significant was in 1953 near Fiji Islands, triggered by an M6.4 earthquake, which killed around 8 people.
2 volcanoes are catalogued near Fiji, including Nabukelevu, Koro. Volcanic systems generate their own earthquake swarms, which is why activity here can look different from a purely tectonic region.
Sources: USGS earthquake catalog, NOAA tsunami database, and the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. Figures update as the catalogs are revised.
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The Fiji region experiences frequent deep earthquakes where the Pacific plate dives beneath the surrounding microplates.
The only real protection is a warning the moment the ground moves - which is exactly what the free QuakeMate app gives you, along with tsunami and volcano alerts for Fiji.
Earthquake risk in Fiji - FAQ
Is Fiji at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 48 quakes a year nearby of magnitude 4+ within 333 km, based on the last 20 years of USGS data. The strongest earthquake on record nearby is M7.9 in 2018.
What was the biggest earthquake in Fiji?
The strongest earthquake on record near Fiji is M7.9, in 2018 (45 km S of Levuka, Fiji), from USGS.
Does Fiji get tsunamis?
Yes - 6 tsunamis since 1881 (most recently 2017) within 333 km, from the NOAA database. The deadliest killed around 8 people.
How do I get earthquake warnings in Fiji?
Download the free QuakeMate app for iPhone. It watches your location and sends a real-time push the instant a quake strikes nearby, plus tsunami and volcano alerts, with custom magnitude and distance rules. On Android, join the waitlist.