A magnitude 3.8 earthquake was recorded and felt across the Suva–Nausori corridor on Thursday evening, the Fiji Seismology Unit said, in the latest seismic event to rattle the country this year. The tremor struck at 5:06pm on December 31 and was logged at a depth of 25 kilometres, with its epicentre located about 40 kilometres southeast of Makuluva Island.
Seismology officials classified the shock as a “felt event,” reporting that light shaking was experienced by residents in parts of the Suva–Nausori corridor. Local authorities have confirmed there are no reports of damage or injuries arising from the quake as of the latest bulletins, and the Seismology Unit said its monitoring networks continue to assess the event.
The unit is asking members of the public who felt the tremor to submit observations to assist with ongoing monitoring and assessment. Public reports of where and how strongly shaking was felt help seismologists refine intensity maps and better understand how seismic waves propagated through the region.
Fiji sits in a seismically active part of the Pacific, and minor earthquakes are a regular occurrence. This event follows a series of small quakes earlier in 2026—most recently a magnitude 3.1 tremor felt in March in the Suva–Nausori area and a magnitude 3.5 quake near Savusavu in January—none of which caused damage. More substantial events have also occurred in the past year, underscoring the island nation’s ongoing exposure to tectonic activity.
Seismologists said continued public vigilance helps improve situational awareness, particularly when many incidents are of low magnitude and produce only light shaking. The Fiji Seismology Unit will issue further updates if new information emerges from its instruments or collected public reports.
Officials reminded communities that routine preparedness measures remain the best protection during seismic activity: secure heavy items, know safe spots in homes and workplaces, and follow any safety advice issued by emergency services. For now, the December 31 event remains a minor, non-damaging tremor in a pattern of frequent, low-magnitude earthquakes monitored by Fiji’s seismic authorities.
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