4.2

M4.2 Earthquake in the Maug Islands region, Northern Mariana IslandsMay 2, 2023

2023-05-02 21:18:14 UTC (2023-05-02) · approx. 7:18 AM UTC+10 local

MagnitudeM4.2(mb)
Time21:18 UTC7:18 AM UTC+10
Depth136.7 kmintermediate depth
Coordinates19.433°, 145.432°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On May 2, 2023 at 21:18 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 intermediate depth earthquake struck in the Maug Islands region, Northern Mariana Islands, at a depth of 136.7 km and coordinates 19.4326°, 145.4323°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.2 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 30 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 476 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 19.43°, 145.43°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.2 mb
Depth
136.7 km
intermediate depth
Location
19.4326°N
145.4323°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000kaek
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
271
Stations Used
18
Azimuthal Gap
145.0°
Min Station Distance
4.183°
RMS Residual
0.40 sec
Last Updated
2023-07-15 22:10:15 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake in the Maug Islands region, Northern Mariana Islands?

The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck in the Maug Islands region, Northern Mariana Islands on May 2, 2023 at 21:18 UTC had a depth of 136.7 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.

Were there aftershocks?

Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.2 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 4.2 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000kaek). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, May 2, 2023). M4.2 Earthquake in the Maug Islands region, Northern Mariana IslandsMay 2, 2023. Retrieved July 15, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000kaek/