M5.1 Earthquake 245 km E of Levuka, Fiji — August 17, 2020
2020-08-17 09:52:12 UTC (2020-08-17) · approx. 9:52 PM UTC-12 local
On August 17, 2020 at 09:52 UTC, a magnitude 5.1 deep-focus earthquake struck 245 km E of Levuka, Fiji, at a depth of 583.5 km and coordinates -18.0760°, -178.3657°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.1 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 674 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 2.0 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
The epicenter is located in Fiji, a region characterized by the Fiji Fracture Zone at the junction of the Pacific and Australian plates, with deep-focus seismicity from the subducted slab. View all earthquakes in Fiji.
Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences
Earthquake Details
-178.3657°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.1 earthquake near Levuka, Fiji?
The magnitude 5.1 earthquake that struck 245 km E of Levuka, Fiji on August 17, 2020 at 09:52 UTC had a depth of 583.5 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -18.0760°, -178.3657°, which is 245 km E of Levuka, Fiji. View all earthquakes in Fiji.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.1 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks and gradually diminish over time.
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Location
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000bfwe). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2020, August 17, 2020). M5.1 Earthquake 245 km E of Levuka, Fiji — August 17, 2020. Retrieved December 22, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000bfwe/