5.0

M5.0 Earthquake 260 km E of Levuka, FijiOctober 27, 2024

2024-10-27 22:06:32 UTC (2024-10-27) · approx. 10:06 AM UTC-12 local

MagnitudeM5.0(mb)
Time22:06 UTC10:06 AM UTC-12
Depth607.6 kmdeep-focus
Coordinates-17.899°, -178.231°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On October 27, 2024 at 22:06 UTC, a magnitude 5.0 deep-focus earthquake struck 260 km E of Levuka, Fiji, at a depth of 607.6 km and coordinates -17.8990°, -178.2309°. This earthquake was detected by 176 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

Map showing earthquake epicenter at -17.90°, -178.23°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
5.0 mb
Depth
607.6 km
deep-focus
Location
-17.8990°N
-178.2309°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us7000nnix
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
385
Stations Used
176
Azimuthal Gap
34.0°
Min Station Distance
2.694°
RMS Residual
0.74 sec
Last Updated
2025-01-04 23:08:31 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 5.0 earthquake near Levuka, Fiji?

The magnitude 5.0 earthquake that struck 260 km E of Levuka, Fiji on October 27, 2024 at 22:06 UTC had a depth of 607.6 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.

Where did the earthquake occur?

The earthquake epicenter was located at -17.8990°, -178.2309°, which is 260 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 5.0 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks and gradually diminish over time.

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000nnix). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, October 27, 2024). M5.0 Earthquake 260 km E of Levuka, FijiOctober 27, 2024. Retrieved January 4, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000nnix/