M4.6 Earthquake 224 km E of Levuka, Fiji — August 9, 2026
2026-08-09 01:09:20 UTC (2026-08-09) · approx. 1:09 PM UTC-12 local
Aftershock of the M5.4 mainshock.
On August 9, 2026 at 01:09 UTC, a magnitude 4.6 deep-focus earthquake struck 224 km E of Levuka, Fiji, at a depth of 606.4 km and coordinates -17.9807°, -178.5652°. This earthquake was detected by 52 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 326, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.6 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 120 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 899 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
This earthquake is part of an ongoing aftershock sequence following the magnitude 5.4 mainshock that occurred 20 days ago 216 km E of Levuka, Fiji. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 5 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
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
-178.5652°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.6 earthquake near Levuka, Fiji?
The magnitude 4.6 earthquake that struck 224 km E of Levuka, Fiji on August 9, 2026 at 01:09 UTC had a depth of 606.4 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -17.9807°, -178.5652°, which is 224 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 4.6 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.4 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.6 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.4 mainshock that occurred earlier 216 km E of Levuka, Fiji. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
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Location
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000tjc4). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, August 9, 2026). M4.6 Earthquake 224 km E of Levuka, Fiji — August 9, 2026. Retrieved September 2, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000tjc4/