4.1

M4.1 Earthquake 186 km N of Saipan, Northern Mariana IslandsJuly 20, 2023

2023-07-20 19:58:24 UTC (2023-07-20) · approx. 5:58 AM UTC+10 local

MagnitudeM4.1(mb)
Time19:58 UTC5:58 AM UTC+10
Depth9.6 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates16.881°, 146.001°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On July 20, 2023 at 19:58 UTC, a magnitude 4.1 shallow crustal earthquake struck 186 km N of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, at a depth of 9.6 km and coordinates 16.8815°, 146.0008°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.1 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 21 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 406 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 16.88°, 146.00°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.1 mb
Depth
9.6 km
shallow crustal
Location
16.8815°N
146.0008°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000kw6v
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
259
Stations Used
20
Azimuthal Gap
135.0°
Min Station Distance
1.644°
RMS Residual
0.63 sec
Last Updated
2023-09-28 21:33:15 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.1 earthquake near Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands?

The magnitude 4.1 earthquake that struck 186 km N of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands on July 20, 2023 at 19:58 UTC had a depth of 9.6 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 4.1 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 4.1 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000kw6v). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, July 20, 2023). M4.1 Earthquake 186 km N of Saipan, Northern Mariana IslandsJuly 20, 2023. Retrieved September 28, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000kw6v/