M5.0 Earthquake in the Guam region — May 12, 2023
2023-05-12 15:01:51 UTC (2023-05-12) · approx. 1:01 AM UTC+10 local
On May 12, 2023 at 15:01 UTC, a magnitude 5.0 shallow crustal earthquake struck in the Guam region, at a depth of 32.1 km and coordinates 12.4037°, 144.0895°. This earthquake was detected by 93 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 385, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.0 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 477 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.7 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
144.0895°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.0 earthquake in the Guam region?
The magnitude 5.0 earthquake that struck in the Guam region on May 12, 2023 at 15:01 UTC had a depth of 32.1 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 12.4037°, 144.0895°, which is in the Guam region.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.0 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks and gradually diminish over time.
Actions
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000kbgr). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, May 12, 2023). M5.0 Earthquake in the Guam region — May 12, 2023. Retrieved July 22, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000kbgr/