M4.3 Earthquake 181 km NNE of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands — July 20, 2023
2023-07-20 19:56:56 UTC (2023-07-20) · approx. 5:56 AM UTC+10 local
On July 20, 2023 at 19:56 UTC, a magnitude 4.3 shallow crustal earthquake struck 181 km NNE of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, at a depth of 11.0 km and coordinates 16.7987°, 146.1668°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.3 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 43 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 558 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
146.1668°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.3 earthquake near Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands?
The magnitude 4.3 earthquake that struck 181 km NNE of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands on July 20, 2023 at 19:56 UTC had a depth of 11.0 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 4.3 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.3 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000kw6k). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, July 20, 2023). M4.3 Earthquake 181 km NNE of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands — July 20, 2023. Retrieved September 28, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000kw6k/