M5.9 Earthquake: Fiji region

Updated 09:05 UTC · 29 Oct 2026

A magnitude 5.9 earthquake struck Fiji region at 10:49 UTC on 14 Oct 2026, at a depth of 585 km, reported by USGS. USGS PAGER issued a green alert: little or no damage and a low chance of deaths. USGS did not set a tsunami flag for this quake. So far 2 aftershocks of M2.5+ have been recorded within 50 km, the largest a M4.4.

M5.9

Magnitude (USGS)

mww

585 km

Depth

deep

GREEN

USGS PAGER impact alert

estimated impact

Aftershocks M2.5+ so far

within 50 km

[ fig. 1 ] M5.9 EPICENTRE, AFTERSHOCKS AND PAST QUAKESThis quakeAftershock M5+AftershockPast M6+

USGS · updated 09:05 UTC 2026-10-29Tap a point for details · pinch or ctrl + scroll to zoomTrack this live in the app ›

Nearest places

Houma, Tongatapu, Tonga361 km from the epicentre · quake was W of here · population 2,086361 KM
Nuku‘alofa, Tongatapu, Tonga371 km from the epicentre · quake was W of here · population 22,400371 KM
Levuka, Eastern, Fiji381 km from the epicentre · quake was SSE of here · population 8,360381 KM
Nasinu, Central, Fiji431 km from the epicentre · quake was SE of here · population 92,043431 KM
Suva, Central, Fiji432 km from the epicentre · quake was SE of here · population 77,366432 KM

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Strongest aftershocks so far

Key context

Tectonic setting

Fiji-Tonga deep slab. This deep quake happened inside the Pacific Plate where it has sunk hundreds of kilometres beneath Fiji and Tonga, the most productive deep-earthquake zone on Earth. Quakes this deep are seldom felt strongly at the surface and do not cause tsunamis.

The USGS moment tensor shows normal faulting: the crust was pulled apart and one block dropped down, typical of stretching crust or of bending in a sinking slab.

At 585 km it was a deep-focus quake, inside a plate that has sunk deep into the mantle. Deep quakes are felt widely but weakly and do not cause tsunamis.

Shaking and impact

USGS PAGER estimates the impact from the shaking and the number of people exposed. For this quake it issued a green alert: little or no damage and a low chance of deaths (fatality alert: green, economic loss alert: green). PAGER is an early estimate and can change as reports come in.

USGS had no "Did You Feel It?" reports for this quake when this page was updated; remote and offshore quakes often get none.

Aftershocks

This page counts quakes of M2.5 or more within 50 km after the main shock, from the USGS catalog (last checked 09:05 UTC, 29 Oct 2026): 2 aftershocks so far.

Aftershocks are normal after a quake of this size. They usually become less frequent over days and weeks, but a strong aftershock can still happen, and in a few sequences a later quake is larger. No one can predict their exact time or size; follow the official agency for your area.

Earthquake history within 250 km

Since 1976, USGS lists 1,064 quakes of M5 or more within 250 km of this epicentre, about 21 a year. Since 1900 the same circle had 148 quakes of M5.9 or larger.

Largest earlier quakes within 250 km, USGS catalog since 1900 (M6+).
Magnitude	Place (USGS)	Date	Depth
M7.8	192 km WSW of Haveluloto, Tonga	1997-10-14	167 km
M7.8	Fiji region	1919-01-01	485 km
M7.7	Fiji region	2002-08-19	580 km
M7.5	262 km WNW of Haveluloto, Tonga	1962-05-21	390 km
M7.4	Fiji region	1996-08-05	550 km
M7.4	Fiji region	1957-09-28	587 km
M7.3	Fiji region	2011-09-15	645 km
M7.3	Fiji region	1944-05-25	633 km

Official information

EMSC (European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre)
USGS event page for this quake (ShakeMap, PAGER, felt reports)
tsunami.gov for US tsunami bulletins

Data status

USGS review status: reviewed. Magnitude type: mww. USGS last updated this event on 14 Oct 2026 at 16:42 UTC. Magnitude, depth and location can still be revised; this page keeps the same address if they change.

Questions and answers

How strong was the earthquake Fiji region?

USGS measured it at magnitude 5.9 (mww), 585 km deep. Quakes of M5 to 5.9 are classed as moderate.

Was there a tsunami?

USGS did not set a tsunami flag for this quake, and at 585 km depth it was too deep to move the sea floor much. If you are on a coast and feel strong or long shaking, move to high ground anyway, and follow local officials.

Was the earthquake felt?

USGS had no felt reports when this page was updated. That is common for offshore and remote quakes. If you felt it, you can report it on the USGS event page.

Will there be more aftershocks?

Aftershocks are likely to continue for days to weeks, becoming less frequent over time. So far 2 aftershocks of M2.5+ have been listed. Most sequences do not produce a larger quake, but some do. No one can predict the time or size of the next one; follow EMSC (European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre).

What should I do after a strong earthquake?

Expect aftershocks: Drop, Cover and Hold On when shaking starts again. Check for injuries and damage, stay out of damaged buildings, and use text messages instead of calls so emergency lines stay free. On a coast, move to high ground after strong shaking. Follow your local officials.

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Sources

USGS event page: magnitude, location, ShakeMap, PAGER and Did You Feel It? data for this event. Public domain. Credit: U.S. Geological Survey.
USGS ComCat (FDSN event web service): the USGS earthquake catalog, used for the 30-year counts, history and aftershocks. Public domain. Credit: U.S. Geological Survey.
USGS Geoserve: nearest places to the epicentre.
GeoNames: large-city coordinates, CC BY 4.0.

Page built 09:05 UTC, 2026-10-29. Full list: data sources and method.