MAJOR EARTHQUAKES IN FIJI.

The existence of a Fijian term for earthquake, “une une” indicates that the inhabitants of Fiji have long recognised that the islands are seismically active. Prior to 1980 seismic records, major Fiji earthquake hypocenters were either located by the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research of New Zealand or the USGS. Documented accounts of the various damages wreaked by these major earthquakes were retrieved from the National Archives of Fiji. Table 1 shows a very brief account of the major earthquakes experienced in Fiji during the 20th century (extracts from reports written by Houtz(2)1953, Skiba(3) 1950, and Everingham(4) 1984)

  

REFERENCES

(2) Houtz R.E. 1953. Suva 1953 earthquake report. Fiji Geological Survey Note 74(unpublished)

(3) Skiba H. 1950 Report on the Koro 1932 Earthquake. Fiji Geological Survey Note 52 (unpublished)

(4) Everingham I.B. 1984 Report on the damage assessments due to the 1979 Taveuni earthquake, Fiji Mineral Resources Department Note BP 46/20 (unpublished)

 

Table 1

 Year

Date

U.Time

 Epicenter

Magnitude

 Damage Report

1932

Mar 9th

1801

 17.5S
179.6E

Ms 6.3

 Major Landslide on neighboring islands tilting and major damage to the reef lightouse

 1953

Sep 14th

 0027

 18.2S
178.3E

Ms 6.7

 Major damage to the wharf and buildings in Suva, Tsunami caused 3 fatalities in Suva and 12 reports of drowning in Kadavu and Koro

 1979

Nov 17th

1521

 16.5S
179.8W

Ms 6.9

 Major damage to buildings on neighboring islands.
Landslide to island of Qamea.

1998

Nov 26th 

0623

 19.1S
177.9E

Mb 6.5

 Major damage to concrete buildings, major landslide to mount Washington, massive damage to plantations

 

　

　

Fig1.The epicenter distribution of some major earthquakes in Fiji.

　

　

Data source (Country report)

1.      Name: Vuetibau Lasarusa PIUTAU

2.      Organization: Seismologist, Scientific Officer Seismology Sec., Mineral Resources Department, Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources

3.      Course: 2000 S

4.      Title: MAJOR EARTHQUAKES RECORDED IN FIJI AND THE TECTONICS OF THE FIJI PLATFORM