3.9

M3.9 Earthquake in the Pagan region, Northern Mariana IslandsSeptember 23, 2023

2023-09-23 23:40:42 UTC (2023-09-23) · approx. 9:40 AM UTC+10 local

MagnitudeM3.9(mb)
Time23:40 UTC9:40 AM UTC+10
Depth364.3 kmdeep-focus
Coordinates18.753°, 145.069°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On September 23, 2023 at 23:40 UTC, a magnitude 3.9 deep-focus earthquake struck in the Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands, at a depth of 364.3 km and coordinates 18.7533°, 145.0694°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 3.9 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 11 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 296 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 18.75°, 145.07°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
3.9 mb
Depth
364.3 km
deep-focus
Location
18.7533°N
145.0694°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000lbe6
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
234
Stations Used
27
Azimuthal Gap
134.0°
Min Station Distance
3.567°
RMS Residual
0.57 sec
Last Updated
2023-12-02 23:01:05 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 3.9 earthquake in the Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands?

The magnitude 3.9 earthquake that struck in the Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands on September 23, 2023 at 23:40 UTC had a depth of 364.3 km. For context, this was a minor earthquake typically detected only by instruments.

Were there aftershocks?

Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 3.9 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 3.9 earthquakes are typically only recorded by instruments.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000lbe6). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, September 23, 2023). M3.9 Earthquake in the Pagan region, Northern Mariana IslandsSeptember 23, 2023. Retrieved December 2, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000lbe6/