A 4.6 magnitude earthquake that shook the Central Division yesterday afternoon did not necessitate a tsunami warning, according to the Mineral Resources Department.
Director of Mineral Resources Malakai Finau said this was because of the location and magnitude of the earthquake.
"The reason there was no tsunami warning issued was firstly because it was a local event, with local events there is no time to issue a tsunami warning," he said.
"It takes about five minutes to issue a warning and while we are still mobilising to issue the warning the wave would have hit."
Mr Finau said the low magnitude of the earthquake was another factor in not issuing a tsunami warning.
The earthquake was recorded at 2.43pm yesterday รน 2.3 kilometres north northwest of Lami Town and 7.01km north northwest of Suva City at a depth of 13.9km.
The Mineral Resources Department said in a statement the earthquake did not generate a tsunami or any threat within the region in particular to the local coastal vicinities.
"The quake was mainly felt around the Suva-Nausori and Veisari corridors because it occurred at a shallow depth," said Mr Finau.
Meanwhile, Dr Nathan Becker of the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii said the centre had recorded the earthquake and tremors on their instruments.
"I can confirm that we did record the event however we did not bother to analyse it as it was so small," Dr Becker said.
The earthquake was felt in Suva and surrounding areas, causing work in the central business district to temporarily come to a stop yesterday.