Massive 6.5-magnitude earthquake strikes holiday paradise Fiji Islands
A MASSIVE earthquake has struck the popular holiday destination the Fiji Islands.
The 6.5 magnitude quake was recorded at a significant depth of 174 kilometres (108 miles) according to the United States Geographical Survey.
Alarming tremors were felt in several parts of Fiji, such as on the Lautoka Islands, locals reported on social media.
The 6.5 magnitude quake is bigger than Fiji’s largest in 2024, and makes it the greatest magnitude of any earth tremor there this year.
The 5.9 magnitude tremor in November last year had its epicentre located in Levuka, in eastern Fiji.
A tsunami is not expected at the tropical paradise according to the US Tsunami Warning System, due to the quake’s depth.
They recorded the original earthquake on Monday morning at 8:03am local time.
The US Tsunami Warning System’s website also said that the epicentre was south of the Fiji Islands.
Fiji, located in the South Pacific, is known for its beautiful landscapes and palm-lined beaches.
There are over 300 islands which are part of Fiji, with 90% of their territory being made up of water.
The popular holiday destination racked up nearly one million visitors in 2024.
Its pristine beaches and breathtaking ocean views make it the world’s soft coral capital.
Pacific island nations such as Fiji, but also including Tonga and Vanuatu, are located along the Pacific “Ring of Fire”.
This is a seismically active arc where tectonic plates meet, resulting in frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions in the area.
The Fiji-based earthquake comes after a devastating tremor rocked Myanmar in March.
Shocking footage showed rooftop pools sloshing water onto the streets as half-built structures collapsed to rubble.
Also last month, a huge 7.1-magnitude earthquake hit near Tonga and Niue in the Pacific Ocean – prompting a tsunami warning.
The US Geological Survey said the temblor hit about 62 miles northeast of the main island of Tongatapu in the early morning hours of Monday local time.
And in April, a strong magnitude 6.9 earthquake rattled Papua New Guinea, triggering a tsunami warning for coastal areas.
The shallow quake struck just 120 miles east of Kimbe, a coastal town in the New Britain region, around 9.04 pm local time, the US Geological Survey (USGS) said.