Fiji sees uptick in number of earthquakes in 2012

January 31, 2012 – FIJI – The number of earthquakes that have been recorded in Fiji this year has increased by nine compared to the same period last year. According to the Department of Mineral Resources, only nine earthquakes were recorded in Fiji in January last year. But so far this year, 18 earthquakes have been recorded by the department. The strongest magnitude in January last year was 4.5 which occurred in the southeast of Koro. This year, the strongest magnitude felt was 6.3 on the southwest of Ono-i-Lau on January 24. Of the 18 earthquakes that struck Fiji from the beginning of this year, only one was experienced in Viti Levu, two in Vanua Levu and eight in the Lau region. Two were reported in the Yasawa Group, one in the island of Koro and four in the Fiji region. Eight of the quakes this year occurred on January 12, mostly in areas of the Lau Group, all ranging from 2.4 to 4.5 in magnitude. –Fiji Times