A massive earthquake measuring 8.2 in the Richter scale occurred at 0020 UTC in the Fiji island region on Sunday, August 19. As per reports, the tremor that hit at a depth of 559 kilometers undersea in the Pacific Ocean did not warrant a Tsunami warning, as it was too deep.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center released a statement that they have observed small, non-dangerous Tsunami waves. While no danger is expected for any coastline in the region, they have asked everyone to be observant and exercise normal caution.
The epicenterof this earthquake was recorded 270 kmeast of Levuka in Fiji and 443 km west of Neiafu in Tonga.
The quake was earlier recorded as 7.9 and then updated to 8.2 magnitude. No damage has been reported as we publish this post. However, the local authority and the Fiji Seismology Section of the Mineral Resources Department have kept their watch and monitoring the situation.
UPDATE: Fiji #earthquake magnitude revised to 8.2 and small, non-dangerous #tsunami waves have been observed. While no hazard is expected for any coastline, but please be observant and exercise normal caution.https://t.co/Af5aJJKIIB
— NWS PTWC (@NWS_PTWC) August 19, 2018
The particular region is location in the “Ring of Fire” zone of the Pacific Ocean, where many quakes and volcanic eruption happen every year. As per the data, the Pacific Ring of Fire is the zone where about 90% of World’s earthquakes occur and that is because of the movement of plates in Earth’s lithosphere. In scientific theory, it is known as Plate tectonics.
For more updated information on earthquakes and Tsunami warnings, please visit the official website of NOAA / National Weather ServiceU.S. Tsunami Warning System.
--Deepak Kumar
Author
