M4.8 Earthquake south of the Fiji Islands — May 20, 2025
2025-05-20 12:53:03 UTC (2025-05-20) · approx. 12:53 AM UTC+12 local
On May 20, 2025 at 12:53 UTC, a magnitude 4.8 deep-focus earthquake struck south of the Fiji Islands, at a depth of 566.6 km and coordinates -23.2924°, 179.9279°. This earthquake was detected by 69 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 354, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.8 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 239 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.2 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
179.9279°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.8 earthquake south of the Fiji Islands?
The magnitude 4.8 earthquake that struck south of the Fiji Islands on May 20, 2025 at 12:53 UTC had a depth of 566.6 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at -23.2924°, 179.9279°, which is south of the Fiji Islands. View all earthquakes in Fiji.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.8 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
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Location
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000q0bb). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2025, May 20, 2025). M4.8 Earthquake south of the Fiji Islands — May 20, 2025. Retrieved July 25, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000q0bb/