4.3

M4.3 Earthquake in the Pagan region, Northern Mariana IslandsSeptember 21, 2023

2023-09-21 19:26:18 UTC (2023-09-21) · approx. 5:26 AM UTC+10 local

MagnitudeM4.3(mb)
Time19:26 UTC5:26 AM UTC+10
Depth65.8 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates18.571°, 146.628°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On September 21, 2023 at 19:26 UTC, a magnitude 4.3 shallow crustal earthquake struck in the Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands, at a depth of 65.8 km and coordinates 18.5710°, 146.6283°.

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.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 18.57°, 146.63°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.3 mb
Depth
65.8 km
shallow crustal
Location
18.5710°N
146.6283°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000lb3a
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
284
Stations Used
33
Azimuthal Gap
85.0°
Min Station Distance
3.414°
RMS Residual
0.81 sec
Last Updated
2023-12-02 23:01:04 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.3 earthquake in the Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands?

The magnitude 4.3 earthquake that struck in the Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands on September 21, 2023 at 19:26 UTC had a depth of 65.8 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.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 4.3 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000lb3a). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, September 21, 2023). M4.3 Earthquake in the Pagan region, Northern Mariana IslandsSeptember 21, 2023. Retrieved December 2, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000lb3a/