M5.1 Earthquake 222 km NNE of Fais, Micronesia — May 14, 2023
2023-05-14 09:49:42 UTC (2023-05-14) · approx. 6:49 PM UTC+9 local
On May 14, 2023 at 09:49 UTC, a magnitude 5.1 shallow crustal earthquake struck 222 km NNE of Fais, Micronesia, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 11.4596°, 141.6110°. This earthquake was detected by 64 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 400, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.1 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 674 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 2.0 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
141.6110°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.1 earthquake near Fais, Micronesia?
The magnitude 5.1 earthquake that struck 222 km NNE of Fais, Micronesia on May 14, 2023 at 09:49 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 11.4596°, 141.6110°, which is 222 km NNE of Fais, Micronesia.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.1 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks and gradually diminish over time.
Actions
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000kbtw). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, May 14, 2023). M5.1 Earthquake 222 km NNE of Fais, Micronesia — May 14, 2023. Retrieved April 28, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000kbtw/