M5.0 Earthquake 140 km NNE of Ba, Fiji — September 23, 2026
2026-09-23 17:46:06 UTC (8 hours ago) · approx. 5:46 AM UTC+12 local
On September 23, 2026 at 17:46 UTC, a magnitude 5.0 shallow crustal earthquake struck 140 km NNE of Ba, Fiji, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates -16.3072°, 178.0194°. This earthquake was detected by 49 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 385, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.0 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 477 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.7 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
178.0194°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.0 earthquake near Ba, Fiji?
The magnitude 5.0 earthquake that struck 140 km NNE of Ba, Fiji on September 23, 2026 at 17:46 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -16.3072°, 178.0194°, which is 140 km NNE of Ba, Fiji. View all earthquakes in Fiji.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.0 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks and gradually diminish over time.
Actions
Location
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000tx58). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, September 23, 2026). M5.0 Earthquake 140 km NNE of Ba, Fiji — September 23, 2026. Retrieved September 23, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000tx58/