There have been 61 aftershocks recorded in the Pacific region since the devastating 8.3 magnitude earthquake last Wednesday which triggered a tsunami and has left an estimated 176 people dead in Samoa, American Samoa and Tonga.

The US Geological Survey Earthquake Monitoring Center shows the quakes ranged from a magnitude of 4.6 to 5.8 on the Richter scale.

Majority of the earthquakes recorded since last Wednesday occurred in the Samoa and Tonga regions as aftershocks following the tsunami.

One earthquake was also recorded in the Fiji region measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale last Friday.

Scientists at Pacific Tsunami Warning Center have warned that more and more earthquakes are occurring in recent years and stressed that Fiji is always in a vulnerable position to experience major earthquakes and tsunamis as we sit in the middle of the Pacific Rim of Fire.

Senior seismologist at the Mineral Resources Department Lasarusa Vuetibau said everyone needs to accept the fact that we are situated in a vulnerable position and we should always be prepared.