A massive earthquake has struck the popular tourist destination of the Fiji Islands.
According to the United States Geographical Survey, the 6.5 magnitude earthquake occurred at a significant depth of 174 kilometres (108 miles).
Alarming tremors were felt throughout Fiji, including the Lautoka Islands, according to locals on social media.
The 6.5 magnitude quake is larger than Fiji’s largest in 2024, and it is the strongest earthquake there this year.
The epicentre of last November’s 5.9 magnitude tremor was in Levuka, eastern Fiji.
Because of the depth of the quake, the US Tsunami Warning System predicts no tsunami in the tropical paradise.
They recorded the original earthquake on Monday morning at 8:03 a.m. local time.
According to the US Tsunami Warning System website, the epicentre was located south of the Fiji Islands.
Fiji, located in the South Pacific, is known for its stunning scenery and palm-lined beaches.
Fiji consists of over 300 islands, with water covering 90% of its territory.
In 2024, the popular vacation destination received nearly one million visitors.
With its pristine beaches and breathtaking ocean views, it is known as the world’s soft coral capital.
Pacific island nations such as Fiji, Tonga, and Vanuatu are located along the Pacific “Ring of Fire”.
This is a seismically active arc where tectonic plates meet, which causes frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions in the area.
The earthquake in Fiji follows a devastating tremor that struck Myanmar in March.
Shocking footage showed rooftop pools spouting water onto the streets as half-built structures collapsed into rubble.
Last month, a massive 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck near Tonga and Niue in the Pacific Ocean, triggering a tsunami warning.
According to the US Geological Survey, the earthquake struck about 62 miles northeast of Tongatapu’s main island in the early hours of Monday local time.
In April, a powerful magnitude 6.9 earthquake shook Papua New Guinea, prompting a tsunami warning for coastal areas.
The shallow quake struck just 120 miles east of Kimbe, a coastal town in the New Britain region, at around 9.04 p.m. local time, according to the US Geological Survey.
