M4.9 Earthquake 152 km NE of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands — October 10, 2023
2023-10-10 12:27:41 UTC (2023-10-10) · approx. 10:27 PM UTC+10 local
On October 10, 2023 at 12:27 UTC, a magnitude 4.9 shallow crustal earthquake struck 152 km NE of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, at a depth of 38.4 km and coordinates 16.0132°, 146.9085°. This earthquake was detected by 78 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 369, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.9 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 338 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.4 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
146.9085°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.9 earthquake near Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands?
The magnitude 4.9 earthquake that struck 152 km NE of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands on October 10, 2023 at 12:27 UTC had a depth of 38.4 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 16.0132°, 146.9085°, which is 152 km NE of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.9 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Actions
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000leh9). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, October 10, 2023). M4.9 Earthquake 152 km NE of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands — October 10, 2023. Retrieved December 16, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000leh9/