A powerful 6.5 magnitude earthquake has struck the idyllic Fiji Islands, a beloved holiday hotspot.
The tremor occurred south of the archipelago at 8:03am local time and was detected at a depth of 174 kilometres (108 miles), as reported by the United States Geological Survey (USGS). Despite the significant quake, there is no tsunami threat to the tropical paradise, assures the US Tsunami Warning System, due to the quake’s deep-sea origin.
Fiji, famed for its breathtaking scenery and pristine beaches, welcomed nearly one million tourists in 2024. The USGS pinpointed the quake’s onset at 8:03am local time, with the US Tsunami Warning System confirming its southern location relative to the Fiji Islands. As of now, the USGS has not received any reports of the quake being felt.
Later in the day, at 4.40pm local time, a less intense 5.1 magnitude earthquake hit the Kermadec Islands region, with a depth of 55.8km. This seismic activity follows a devastating 7.7 magnitude earthquake that struck Myanmar on March 28, leaving 4,521 injured and 441 unaccounted for.
The US Geological Survey has issued a grim forecast, suggesting “a death toll over 10,000 is a strong possibility” considering the quake’s magnitude and epicentre.
Schiehallion, an iconic Scottish peak and a favourite among hikers for its majestic views, has been jolted by three earthquakes in just six hours, causing concern as “whole houses shuddered”. The British Geological Society reports that this Perthshire landmark, towering over 1,000 metres, experienced seismic shocks on Monday, April 7, starting at 6.58am with follow-up tremors at 12.14pm and 12.16pm.
This unsettling activity comes shortly after another quake at the same spot on April 2 at 11.55pm.
The initial quake struck at three kilometres deep, measuring 1.8 on the Richter Scale. This was followed, five hours later, by two less intense tremors in close succession; the second registered at 0.8 and originated from four kilometres down, while the third, occurring just two minutes later at two kilometres depth, recorded a magnitude of 1 on the Richter chart.
