M5.6 Earthquake near south of the Fiji Islands — 23 July 2025
A moderate earthquake of magnitude 5.6 was recorded near south of the Fiji Islands on , at a focal depth of 535.4 km.
Time (UTC): 2025-07-23 03:24:00
Time (your timezone): —
Magnitude: 5.6 (moderate)
Focal depth: 535.4 km (deep)
Epicentre: -23.4768, -179.9110
Location: south of the Fiji Islands
USGS link to NOAA tsunami information: Not linked
Review status: Reviewed
Source: USGS event page
How strong was this earthquake?
Moderate earthquakes can damage poorly built or unreinforced structures near the epicentre, while well-engineered buildings typically escape serious harm. Shaking is often strong enough to wake sleeping residents over a wide area.
A magnitude 5.6 earthquake radiates roughly 3,788 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.
The USGS assigns this earthquake a significance score of 482, which is below the USGS threshold of more than 600 for its significant-earthquake list. The ranking combines magnitude with available Did You Feel It responses and PAGER alert level; it is not a direct measurement of damage.
Where was the epicentre?
The epicentre was located at -23.4768, -179.9110. The closest other recorded event was a magnitude 4.5 earthquake 2 km south of here on 16 April 2026.
Why the 535 km depth matters
At 535 km this was a deep-focus earthquake, occurring well inside the subducting slab rather than in the crust. Deep events are rarely damaging even at large magnitudes, though they can be felt over very long distances.
This catalogue does not ingest eyewitness responses, so it cannot confirm where this earthquake was felt. Based on magnitude alone, an event this size can be felt widely and may cause minor local damage. Its deep focus normally weakens surface shaking while spreading perceptible motion over a broad area.
What does the tsunami information flag mean?
The USGS record does not carry a link to NOAA tsunami information. That field is not an all-clear and does not state whether a tsunami occurred. In this case, a damaging tsunami would be less likely because at M5.6 it falls below the magnitude 6.5 threshold that generally applies before a submarine earthquake displaces enough water to generate a damaging tsunami; its 535 km focal depth is too great to deform the sea floor significantly. For an active coastal alert, use tsunami.gov or your local warning authority.
How earthquakes generate tsunamis, and what the alert levels mean →
Aftershocks and local seismic history
No further earthquakes have been recorded within about 150 km of the epicentre in the seven days after this event.
121 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or above have been logged within roughly 200 km of this epicentre in our catalogue. The strongest was a magnitude 6.3 event near Fiji region on 01 March 2026. This M5.6 event released about 11 times less energy than that event.
How long aftershock sequences last, and how large they get →
Where this event sits in the record
This earthquake is part of the July 2025 worldwide record. Browse the full monthly archive to compare periods.
Nearest recorded earthquakes to this epicentre
- M4.5 earthquake near south of the Fiji Islands — (2 km S)
- M5.5 earthquake near south of the Fiji Islands — (5 km NNE)
- M4.6 earthquake near south of the Fiji Islands — (7 km SW)
- M5.1 earthquake near south of the Fiji Islands — (8 km WNW)
- M5.0 earthquake near south of the Fiji Islands — (8 km ENE)
- M4.4 earthquake near south of the Fiji Islands — (9 km NW)
- M4.5 earthquake near south of the Fiji Islands — (9 km NNE)
- M4.6 earthquake near south of the Fiji Islands — (15 km NNE)
- M4.6 earthquake near south of the Fiji Islands — (21 km SSW)
- M4.5 earthquake near south of the Fiji Islands — (21 km SSE)
Other magnitude 5 earthquakes worldwide
- M5.6 earthquake near Port McNeill, Canada —
- M5.5 earthquake near Mutsu, Japan —
- M5.6 earthquake near San Fernando, Peru —
- M5.8 earthquake near Kermadec Islands region —
- M5.4 earthquake near Abepura, Indonesia —
- M5.3 earthquake near Kokopo, Papua New Guinea —
- M5.6 earthquake near Pacific-Antarctic Ridge —
- M5.4 earthquake near Rapu-Rapu, Philippines —
Questions about this earthquake
How strong is a magnitude 5.6 earthquake?
Moderate earthquakes can damage poorly built or unreinforced structures near the epicentre, while well-engineered buildings typically escape serious harm. Shaking is often strong enough to wake sleeping residents over a wide area. A magnitude 5.6 earthquake radiates roughly 3,788 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.
How deep was the earthquake near south of the Fiji Islands?
At 535 km this was a deep-focus earthquake, occurring well inside the subducting slab rather than in the crust. Deep events are rarely damaging even at large magnitudes, though they can be felt over very long distances.
Was the M5.6 earthquake near south of the Fiji Islands felt?
This catalogue does not ingest eyewitness responses, so it cannot confirm where this earthquake was felt. Based on magnitude alone, an event this size can be felt widely and may cause minor local damage. Its deep focus normally weakens surface shaking while spreading perceptible motion over a broad area.
What does the USGS tsunami field mean for this event?
The USGS record does not carry a link to NOAA tsunami information. That field is not an all-clear and does not state whether a tsunami occurred. In this case, a damaging tsunami would be less likely because at M5.6 it falls below the magnitude 6.5 threshold that generally applies before a submarine earthquake displaces enough water to generate a damaging tsunami; its 535 km focal depth is too great to deform the sea floor significantly. For an active coastal alert, use tsunami.gov or your local warning authority.
Have there been aftershocks?
No further earthquakes have been recorded within about 150 km of the epicentre in the seven days after this event.
How often do earthquakes happen near south of the Fiji Islands?
121 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or above have been logged within roughly 200 km of this epicentre in our catalogue. The strongest was a magnitude 6.3 event near Fiji region on 01 March 2026. This M5.6 event released about 11 times less energy than that event.