5.9

M5.9 Earthquake in the Fiji region — October 14, 2026

2026-10-14 10:49:47 UTC (2 hours ago) · approx. 10:49 PM UTC-12 local

MagnitudeM5.9(mww)
Time10:49 UTC≈ 10:49 PM UTC-12
Depth585.1 kmdeep-focus
Coordinates-20.990°, -178.771°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On October 14, 2026 at 10:49 UTC, a magnitude 5.9 deep-focus earthquake struck in the Fiji region, at a depth of 585.1 km and coordinates -20.9899°, -178.7711°. This earthquake was detected by 87 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 536, placing it among routine seismic activity.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.9 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 11 kilotons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 7.1 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

Map showing earthquake epicenter at -20.99°, -178.77°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
5.9 mww
Depth
585.1 km
deep-focus
Location
-20.9899°N
-178.7711°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000u28y
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
536
Stations Used
87
Azimuthal Gap
35.0°
Min Station Distance
4.405°
RMS Residual
1.14 sec
Last Updated
2026-10-14 11:06:01 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 5.9 earthquake in the Fiji region?

The magnitude 5.9 earthquake that struck in the Fiji region on October 14, 2026 at 10:49 UTC had a depth of 585.1 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.

Where did the earthquake occur?

The earthquake epicenter was located at -20.9899°, -178.7711°, which is in the Fiji region. View all earthquakes in Fiji.

Were there aftershocks?

Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.9 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks and gradually diminish over time.

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000u28y). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, October 14, 2026). M5.9 Earthquake in the Fiji region — October 14, 2026. Retrieved October 14, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000u28y/