February 22, 1909 Earthquake: Fiji Islands

Name: February 22, 1909 Earthquake: Fiji Islands
Start: 1909-02-22
Location: Fiji Islands

February 22, 1909 · M7.8

A magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck Fiji Islands on February 22, 1909 at 09:21:42 UTC, 550 km below the surface.

Map

Where it struck, with the other significant earthquakes within 200 km. Circles are sized and colored by magnitude; select one for its page.

The earthquake

Date: February 22, 1909
Time: 09:21:42 UTC
Place: Fiji Islands
Magnitude: 7.8 (Ms)
Focal depth: 550 km (342 mi)
Tsunami: None recorded
Epicenter: 18.000° S, 179.000° W
Country: Fiji

The toll

The record gives no deaths, injuries or damage for this earthquake.

What the record says

NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.

Reference #130 lists earthquake on Feb 22, 1909, 09:21.7 UTC, 18 S, 179 W, depth 550 km, magnitude 7.5.

Reference #88 lists earthquake on Feb 22, 1909, 09:21:42 UTC, 18 S, 179 W, depth 550 km, magnitude 7.9.

Reference #1002 lists earthquake on Feb 22, 1909, in Tonga, depth 55 km, magnitude 7.5.

Other significant earthquakes nearby

Within 200 km, the deadliest first.

Significant earthquakes of 1909 The 1900s Every quake the USGS located in 1909 Recent earthquakes near here This day in weather history

Sources

Significant earthquakes from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Hazard Database, cited as NCEI/WDS, doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7. Public domain. Read 2026-09-24. NCEI earthquake 2856.