NewKerala.com

6.1 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes South Pacific, Aftershocks Feared

A significant earthquake measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale struck the South Pacific Ocean late on Sunday. The quake occurred at a shallow depth of 10 kilometers, which typically makes such events more dangerous due to stronger ground shaking. This region is part of the circum-Pacific seismic belt, notoriously known as the "Ring of Fire," where about 81% of the world's largest earthquakes occur. The belt is a massive 40,000 km long zone created by tectonic plate boundaries and is responsible for hundreds of thousands of detectable quakes annually.

Key Points: 6.1 Magnitude Earthquake Hits South Pacific Ocean

  • Magnitude 6.1 quake in South Pacific
  • Occurred at shallow 10km depth
  • High risk of aftershocks
  • Part of Pacific "Ring of Fire"
  • Belt causes 81% of largest quakes
2 min read

Earthquake of magnitude 6.1 rattles Pacific Ocean

A shallow 6.1 magnitude earthquake struck the South Pacific Ocean, raising risks of aftershocks. Learn about the dangerous Pacific Ring of Fire.

"Shallow earthquakes are generally more dangerous than deep earthquakes. - National Center for Seismology"

Pacific Ocean, March 23

An earthquake of magnitude 6.1 rattled across the South Pacific Ocean on late Sunday, as per a statement by the National Center for Seismology.

The earthquake occurred at a shallow depth of 10km, making it susceptible to aftershocks.

In a post on X, the NCS said, "EQ of M: 6.1, On: 22/03/2026 20:57:59 IST, Lat: 15.353 S, Long: 172.824 W, Depth: 10 Km, Location: South Pacific Ocean."

Shallow earthquakes are generally more dangerous than deep earthquakes. This is because the seismic waves from shallow earthquakes have a shorter distance to travel to the surface, resulting in stronger ground shaking and potentially more damage to structures and greater casualties.

The world's greatest earthquake belt, the circum-Pacific seismic belt, is found along the rim of the Pacific Ocean, where about 81 per cent of our planet's largest earthquakes occur. It has earned the nickname "Ring of Fire," the US Geological Survey (USGS) states.

The belt exists along boundaries of tectonic plates, where plates of mostly oceanic crust are sinking (or subducting) beneath another plate. Earthquakes in these subduction zones are caused by slip between plates and rupture within plates. Earthquakes in the circum-Pacific seismic belt include the M9.5 Chilean Earthquake [Valdivia Earthquake] (1960) and the M9.2 Alaska Earthquake (1964).

Approximately 90% of the world's earthquakes occur along the Ring of Fire. About 81% of the world's largest earthquakes happen in this belt. It is estimated that there are 500,000 detectable earthquakes in the world each year. 100,000 of those can be felt, and 100 of them cause damage.

The Pacific Ring of Fire is about 40,000 km (25,000 mi) long and up to about 500 km (310 mi) wide, and surrounds most of the Pacific Ocean.

The current configuration of the Pacific Ring of Fire has been created by the development of the present-day subduction zones, initially (by about 115 million years ago) in South America, North America and Asia. As plate configurations gradually changed, the current subduction zones of Indonesia and New Guinea were created (about 70 million years ago), followed finally by the New Zealand subduction zone (about 35 million years ago).

- ANI

Share this article:

Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Shallow depth of 10km! That's scary. Makes you realize how powerful nature is. Hope there are no tsunamis triggered. Our NDMA should also take note and ensure our coastal early warning systems are always functional.
A
Aman W
The article is very informative about the Ring of Fire. But I feel it could have briefly mentioned the recent studies about increased seismic activity patterns. Just reporting the event is not enough for a science piece.
S
Sarah B
Reading about the 1960 Chile earthquake puts the scale into perspective. A 6.1 is significant but thankfully not in that league. Constant reminders that we live on a dynamic planet.
V
Vikram M
The NCS posting real-time data on X is good transparency. More Indian agencies should use social media effectively for public awareness. Knowledge is the first step towards preparedness.
K
Kavya N
ॐ नमः शिवाय। Hoping for the safety of all marine life and any people in the wider region. Nature's power is humbling. This is a good reminder to check our own earthquake preparedness at home, especially if you live in zones like Delhi or the Northeast.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50