Strong magnitude 5.0 earthquake at 486 km depth31 May 04:02 UTC: First to report: GEONET (NZ) after 5 minutes.31 May 04:06: Magnitude recalculated from 3.7 to 5.0. Hypocenter depth recalculated from 10.00 to 495.70 km (from 6.2 to 308 mi). Epicenter location corrected by 1307 km (812 mi) towards NNE.31 May 04:11: Now using data updates from EMSC31 May 04:12: Now using data updates from USGSI didn't feel itI felt this quakeEarthquake detailsDate & timeMay 31, 2026 03:57:05 UTC - Local time at epicenterSunday, May 31, 2026, at 04:57 pm (GMT +13)Statusconfirmed (manually revised)Magnitude5.00Depth486 kmEpicenter latitude / longitude24.0984°S / 179.7084°WFijiSeismic antipode24.0984°N / 0.2916°EMoroccoQuality44 seismic stationsShaking intensityII Very weak shakingFelt0 reportsPrimary data sourceUSGS (United States Geological Survey)Weather at epicenter at time of quakeOvercast Clouds 18°C (64 F), humidity: 75%, wind: 9 m/s (18 kts) from NNEEstimated seismic energy released2 x 1012 joules (554 megawatt hours, equivalent to 477 tons of TNT) | equivalent to ONE quake of magnitude 5.0 | about seismic energy32 minutes agoMay 31, 2026 03:57 GMT / May 31, 2026 04:57 pm (GMT +13)Lat / Lng: -24.0984 / -179.7084: South of the Fiji IslandsSource: USGSOther sources: GEONET (NZ): 5.0 / 496 km, EMSC: 5.0 / 486 km, 1 more...Detail info | You felt it? - Report it!';storedMarkers.push(['quake-23050683',-24.09840,-179.70840,'32 minutes ago: Mag. 5.0, South of the Fiji Islands',html,'quakes-7-24.png',30,30,15,15,126]); function mkRep(id,notFelt){var nFelt=notFelt||false;var src="https://www.volcanoesandearthquakes.com/app/earthquake-report.php?quakeId="+id;if(nFelt==true){src+="¬Felt=true";}window.open(src,"","status=0,toolbar=0,location=0,directories=0,menubar=0,resizable=1,scrollbars=1,height=400,width=350");} function locationHashChanged(e){-1!=e.oldURL.indexOf("#popupMap")&&closePopup()} window.onhashchange = locationHashChanged; function comment(e){var t=e.parentNode,a=(t.dataset.id,document.getElementById("commentForm"));"none"==a.style.display?(t.appendChild(a),a.style.display="block"):a.style.display="none"}function sendComment(e){var t=e.parentNode,a=t.parentNode.dataset.id,n=document.getElementById("commentContent"),p=n.value.trim();if(p){var o="id="+a+"&quakeId="+thisQuakeId;o+="&comment="+decodeURIComponent(p),mkRequest("//reports.volcanodiscovery.com/app/eqReportComment.php","post",o,function(e){e.responseText;alert("Thank you for submitting your comment!"),t.style.display="none",n.value=""})}}function flagReport(e){var t=e.parentNode.dataset.id;if(confirm("Report this as inappropriate?")){var a="id="+t+"&quakeId="+thisQuakeId+"&flagAsInappropriate=1";mkRequest("//reports.volcanodiscovery.com/app/eqReportComment.php","post",a,function(t){var a=t.responseText;alert(a),e.style.display="none"})}}function likeReport(e){var t="id="+e.parentNode.dataset.id+"&quakeId="+thisQuakeId+"&like=1";mkRequest("//reports.volcanodiscovery.com/app/eqReportComment.php","post",t,function(t){t.responseText;e.style.opacity=.5})}]]>[smaller] [bigger]Most recent quakes Top 20 past 24 hrs Quakes in FijiNearby placesThe closest larger town near the epicenter is Nukunuku, a town with 2,100 inhabitants in Tonga, in 560 km (348 mi) distance to the northeast, but it is unlikely that the quake was felt there. DistancePlaceMax. shaking intensity(*)RegionCountry560 km (348 mi)NE of epicenterNukunuku(pop: 2,100)I: Not feltTongatapuTonga565 km (351 mi)NE of epicenterFua'amotu(pop: 1,680)I: Not feltTongatapuTonga568 km (353 mi)NE of epicenterNuku'alofa(pop: 22,400)I: Not feltKolofo'ou, TongatapuTonga576 km (358 mi)NE of epicenter'Ohonua(pop: 1,470)I: Not felt'Eua Prope, EuaTonga579 km (360 mi)NE of epicenterKolonga(pop: 1,210)I: Not feltTongatapuTonga736 km (458 mi)NE of epicenterFangale'ounga(pop: 2,020)I: Not feltHa'apaiTongaNotes:(*) Shaking intensity according to the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale (MMI) and estimated using seismic models.User-reports for this quakeThere are no user reports for this quake yet.If you felt it, be the first to report it!Get the Android appCompare Quake DataData for the same earthquake as reported by different agenciesThe more agencies report about the same quake and post similar data, the more confidence you can have in the data. It takes normally up to a few hours until earthquake parameters are calculated with near-optimum precision.MagDepthTime GMT2026-05-31EpicenterAgency5.0± 0.11486 km302 mi±8.5 km03:57:05.76south of the Fiji IslandsEpicenter uncertainty: ± 12 kmUSGS (United States Geological Survey)5.0496 km308 mi03:57:03New Zealand50 km (31 mi) epicenter difference with USGSGEONET (NZ) (Earthquake Commission and Geological Survey, New Zealand)5.0± 0.11486 km302 mi03:57:05.76±1.4sSOUTH OF FIJI ISLANDS0 km (0 mi) epicenter difference with USGSEpicenter uncertainty: ± 21 kmEMSC (European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre)5.0486 km302 mi03:57:05SOUTH OF FIJI ISLANDS0 km (0 mi) epicenter difference with USGSIRIS (Incorporated Research Institutions for Seismology)Aftershocks for this quakeNo aftershocks have been recorded so far. When aftershocks are detected, we will update this section.What are aftershocks?Larger earthquakes (above magnitude 5 or so) such as this one are usually followed by smaller ones known as aftershocks that occur in the same area during the days, weeks, months or even years after the main shock.[More info]What about this quake?Based on its magnitude, the fault that was active during the quake likely ruptured beneath a surface area of approximately 10 km2 (4 square miles) as a first-order estimate. The length of the rupture zone thus was probably around 5 km (3 mi).[More info]Recorded aftershocks, latest first (0 quake)May 31, 2026 04:57 pm (GMT +13)32 minutes ago5.0486 km0 km - This quakeSouth Pacific Ocean, FijiMain Shock (this quake)MoreMap of aftershocksEarthquake statisticsAverage number of earthquakesBased on data from the past 26 years and our earthquake archive back to 1900, there are about 117 quakes on average per year in the area near the epicenter of this quake (within 100 km/61 mi):Mag. 6 or higher: 0.1 quakes per year (or 1 quake every 10.5 years)Mag. 5 or higher: 3.3 quakes per yearMag. 4 or higher: 114 quakes per year (or 9.5 quakes per month)Mag. 3 or higher: 136 quakes per year (or 11.4 quakes per month)Mag. 2 or higher: 136 quakes per year (or 11.4 quakes per month)The area where this quake occurred has a very high level of seismic activity. It has had at least 12 quakes above magnitude 6 since 1900, which suggests that larger earthquakes of this size occur infrequently, probably on average approximately every 10 to 15 years.Number of quakes per yearPrevious quakes in the same area of this earthquakeStrongest in 5 yearsThe earthquake was the strongest to hit this part of Fiji in over 5 years. Earlier, the last quake of equal or greater strength near the present epicenter had been a magnitude 7.1 earthquake on Friday, Mar 5, 2021, at 01:27 am (GMT +12 local time) in 1,484 km (922 mi) distance to the south:Mag. 7.1 earthquake South Pacific Ocean - Gisborne, New Zealand - Mar 5, 2021 - Below is a list and map of larger or recent quakes that had occurred near the epicenter before this earthquake (within up to 100 km/61 mi distance, up to 300 km/183 mi for very large quakes above mag. 7). Filter and sort the list by magnitude or time.Max results102050100AllMagnitudeAll2+3+4+5+6+7+8+Time before48 hours1 week30 days1 year5 years30 yearsAny ageDate and TimeMagDepthDistanceLocationDetailsMapMay 25, 01:22 am (GMT +12)3.1202 km1364 km (848 mi) to the SSouth Pacific Ocean, 243 km northeast of Tauranga, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand I FELT ITInfoMay 24, 10:14 pm (GMT +12)3.0376 km1275 km (792 mi) to the SSouth Pacific Ocean, 294 km northeast of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand I FELT ITInfoMay 24, 05:42 am (GMT +12)3.1320 km1310 km (814 mi) to the SSouth Pacific Ocean, 269 km northeast of Auckland, Auckland, New ZealandInfoMay 23, 07:55 pm (GMT +12)3.9389 km1272 km (790 mi) to the SSouth Pacific Ocean, 362 km northeast of Hamilton, Waikato, New ZealandInfoMay 22, 03:01 pm (GMT +12)3.5333 km1252 km (778 mi) to the SSouth Pacific Ocean, 319 km northeast of Auckland, Auckland, New ZealandInfoMay 11, 11:23 am (GMT +12)3.9371 km1365 km (848 mi) to the SSouth Pacific Ocean, 226 km northeast of Tauranga, Bay of Plenty, New ZealandInfoApr 30, 05:17 pm (GMT +12)3.7322 km1332 km (828 mi) to the SSouth Pacific Ocean, 272 km northeast of Tauranga, Bay of Plenty, New ZealandInfoApr 23, 06:34 pm (GMT +12)4.0375 km1306 km (812 mi) to the SSouth Pacific Ocean, 283 km northeast of Tauranga, Bay of Plenty, New ZealandInfoApr 22, 07:54 am (GMT +12)4.1188 km1268 km (788 mi) to the SSouth Pacific Ocean, 319 km northeast of Whakatane, Bay of Plenty, New ZealandInfoMar 5, 2021 01:27 am (GMT +12)7.190 km1484 km (922 mi) to the SSouth Pacific Ocean, 192 km northeast of Gisborne, Gisborne, New Zealand 1267 reportsInfoAug 19, 2018 04:32 pm (GMT +12)5.1372 km1329 km (826 mi) to the SSouth Pacific Ocean, 260 km northeast of Tauranga, Bay of Plenty, New ZealandInfoApr 14, 2018 01:38 am (GMT +12)5.5184 km1301 km (809 mi) to the SSouth Pacific Ocean, 367 km east of Auckland, Auckland, New ZealandInfoFeb 25, 2017 05:31 am (GMT +12)5.2324 km1373 km (853 mi) to the SSouth Pacific Ocean, 299 km northeast of Hamilton, Waikato, New Zealand 1 reportInfoJan 3, 2017 01:16 am (GMT +12)5.2428 km1306 km (812 mi) to the SSouth Pacific Ocean, 284 km northeast of Tauranga, Bay of Plenty, New ZealandInfoSep 2, 2016 04:37 am (GMT +12)7.026 km1488 km (925 mi) to the SSouth Pacific Ocean, 64 km northeast of East Island, Gisborne, New Zealand 24 reportsInfoSep 21, 2014 03:05 pm (Universal Time)5.19.7 km1332 km (828 mi) to the SSouth Pacific Ocean, 267 km east of Great Barrier Island, Auckland, New ZealandInfoSep 22, 2014 03:02 am (GMT +12)5.317 km1329 km (826 mi) to the SSouth Pacific Ocean, 279 km northeast of Tauranga, Bay of Plenty, New ZealandInfoJul 22, 2014 02:57 am (GMT +12)5.1421 km1348 km (838 mi) to the SSouth Pacific Ocean, 245 km northeast of Tauranga, Bay of Plenty, New ZealandInfoMay 4, 2014 09:17 pm (GMT +12)5.1251 km1331 km (827 mi) to the SSouth Pacific Ocean, 273 km northeast of Tauranga, Bay of Plenty, New ZealandInfoMar 26, 2014 03:31 pm (GMT +12)5.2372 km1344 km (835 mi) to the SSouth Pacific Ocean, 248 km northeast of Tauranga, Bay of Plenty, New ZealandInfoJul 10, 2011 02:40 am (GMT +12)5.312 km1329 km (826 mi) to the SSouth Pacific Ocean, 245 km east of Great Barrier Island, Auckland, New ZealandInfoFeb 19, 2008 11:51 pm (GMT +12)5.110 km1300 km (808 mi) to the SSouth Pacific Ocean, 272 km east of Great Barrier Island, Auckland, New ZealandInfoFeb 19, 2008 09:26 pm (GMT +12)5.110 km1310 km (814 mi) to the SSouth Pacific Ocean, 261 km east of Great Barrier Island, Auckland, New ZealandInfoOct 27, 2007 07:54 pm (GMT +12)5.35.7 km1305 km (811 mi) to the SSouth Pacific Ocean, 235 km east of Great Barrier Island, Auckland, New ZealandInfoFeb 10, 2007 01:51 am (GMT +12)5.1303 km1384 km (860 mi) to the SSouth Pacific Ocean, 190 km east of Great Barrier Island, Auckland, New ZealandInfoAug 31, 2005 05:34 am (GMT +12)5.133 km1313 km (816 mi) to the SSouth Pacific Ocean, 278 km east of Great Barrier Island, Auckland, New ZealandInfoOct 5, 2004 11:13 am (GMT +12)5.233 km1262 km (784 mi) to the SSouth Pacific Ocean, 258 km northeast of Great Barrier Island, New ZealandInfoJul 1, 2000 04:48 pm (GMT +12)5.7241 km1248 km (776 mi) to the SSouth Pacific Ocean, 308 km east of Great Barrier Island, Auckland, New ZealandInfoJul 16, 1999 02:52 am (GMT +12)5.4249 km1317 km (818 mi) to the SSouth Pacific Ocean, 245 km east of Great Barrier Island, Auckland, New ZealandInfoJul 9, 1999 12:43 pm (GMT +12)5.133 km1226 km (762 mi) to the S North of New ZealandInfoApr 20, 1999 06:15 pm (GMT +12)5.4229 km1387 km (862 mi) to the SSouth Pacific Ocean, 220 km east of Great Barrier Island, Auckland, New ZealandInfoDec 16, 1995 07:38 pm (GMT +12)5.1186 km1314 km (816 mi) to the SSouth Pacific Ocean, 257 km east of Great Barrier Island, Auckland, New ZealandInfoFeb 6, 1995 11:51 am (Auckland)7.121 km1526 km (948 mi) to the SSouth Pacific Ocean, 119 km northeast of Gisborne, Gisborne, New ZealandInfoDec 5, 1994 10:05 am (GMT +12)5.4160 km1290 km (802 mi) to the SSouth Pacific Ocean, 280 km east of Great Barrier Island, Auckland, New ZealandInfoAug 26, 1993 01:30 pm (GMT +12)5.633 km1327 km (824 mi) to the SSouth Pacific Ocean, 258 km east of Great Barrier Island, Auckland, New ZealandInfoAug 13, 1993 11:02 pm (GMT +12)6.395 km1334 km (829 mi) to the SSouth Pacific Ocean, 281 km northeast of Tauranga, Bay of Plenty, New ZealandInfoMar 17, 1992 11:21 am (GMT +12)5.4181 km1269 km (789 mi) to the SSouth Pacific Ocean, 294 km east of Great Barrier Island, Auckland, New ZealandInfoJan 13, 1985 01:08 pm (GMT +12)5.233 km1398 km (869 mi) to the SSouth Pacific Ocean, 189 km northeast of Tauranga, Bay of Plenty, New ZealandInfoJun 30, 1980 11:20 pm (GMT +12)5.4194 km1235 km (767 mi) to the SSouth Pacific Ocean, 298 km northeast of Great Barrier Island, New ZealandInfoMar 23, 1969 09:56 pm (GMT +12)5.233 km1230 km (765 mi) to the SSouth Pacific Ocean, 237 km northeast of Great Barrier Island, New ZealandInfoAug 28, 1966 07:29 pm (GMT +12)5.6170 km1344 km (835 mi) to the SSouth Pacific Ocean, 278 km northeast of Tauranga, Bay of Plenty, New ZealandInfoJul 28, 1961 03:34 am (GMT +12)5.20 km1372 km (852 mi) to the SSouth Pacific Ocean, 237 km northeast of Tauranga, Bay of Plenty, New ZealandInfoOct 7, 1914 08:15 am (Auckland)7.00 km1537 km (955 mi) to the S North IslandInfoMap of earlier quakes in the area of this quakeMax results102050100AllMagnitudeAll2+3+4+5+6+7+8+Time before48 hours1 week30 days1 year5 years30 yearsAny ageOldest quakes are shown in yellow, most recent in red.[quakes -][quakes +][smaller][bigger]