5.2

M5.2 Earthquake in the Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands — October 2, 2020

2020-10-02 23:31:16 UTC (2020-10-02) · approx. 9:31 AM UTC+10 local

MagnitudeM5.2(mww)
Time23:31 UTC≈ 9:31 AM UTC+10
Depth110.0 kmintermediate depth
Coordinates18.725°, 145.916°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On October 2, 2020 at 23:31 UTC, a magnitude 5.2 intermediate depth earthquake struck in the Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands, at a depth of 110.0 km and coordinates 18.7253°, 145.9160°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.2 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 951 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 2.3 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 18.73°, 145.92°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
5.2 mww
Depth
110.0 km
intermediate depth
Location
18.7253°N
145.9160°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000c521
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
416
Azimuthal Gap
15.0°
Min Station Distance
3.467°
RMS Residual
0.72 sec
Last Updated
2025-12-22 18:43:12 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 5.2 earthquake in the Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands?

The magnitude 5.2 earthquake that struck in the Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands on October 2, 2020 at 23:31 UTC had a depth of 110.0 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.

Where did the earthquake occur?

The earthquake epicenter was located at 18.7253°, 145.9160°, which is in the Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands.

Were there aftershocks?

Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.2 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks and gradually diminish over time.

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000c521). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2020, October 2, 2020). M5.2 Earthquake in the Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands — October 2, 2020. Retrieved December 22, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000c521/