A very deep earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.6 hit Fiji islands region at 10:52 UTC on September 30, 2018. The agency is reporting a depth of 546 km (339 miles). EMSC is reporting the same magnitude and depth.
The epicenter was located 276 km (171 miles) E of Levuka and 345 km (214 miles) SE of Labasa, Fiji.
There are about 2 000 people living within 100 km (62 miles).
Some 1 033 000 people are estimated to have felt weak shaking.
This earthquake was too deep to produce a tsunami.
The USGS issued a green alert for shaking-related fatalities and economic losses. There is a low likelihood of casualties and damage.
Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are vulnerable to earthquake shaking, though resistant structures exist. The predominant vulnerable building types are informal (metal, timber, GI etc.) and unknown/miscellaneous types construction.
Estimated population exposure to earthquake shaking
Regional seismicity
Featured image credit: USGS, EMSC
