Deep M6.3 earthquake hits Fiji region
A deep earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.3 hit the Fiji region at 05:44 UTC on March 1, 2026. The agency is reporting a depth of 596 km (370 miles). EMSC is reporting the same magnitude and depth.
Epicenter of M6.3 earthquake in Fiji region on March 1, 2026. Credit: TW/SAM, Google
The epicenter was located 447 km (278 miles) W of Nuku‘alofa (population 22 400), Tonga, and 475 km (295 miles) SSE of Suva (population 77 366), Fiji.
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, and miscellaneous) construction.
Estimated population exposure to earthquake shaking
Regional seismicity
References:
1 M6.3 earthquake Fiji region – USGS – March 1, 2026
2 M6.3 earthquake Fiji region – EMSC – March 1, 2026
I'm a dedicated researcher, journalist, and editor at The Watchers. With over 20 years of experience in the media industry, I specialize in hard science news, focusing on extreme weather, seismic and volcanic activity, space weather, and astronomy, including near-Earth objects and planetary defense strategies. You can reach me at teo /at/ watchers.news.
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