M5.0 Earthquake 147 km E of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands — October 11, 2023
2023-10-11 01:50:17 UTC (2023-10-11) · approx. 11:50 AM UTC+10 local
On October 11, 2023 at 01:50 UTC, a magnitude 5.0 shallow crustal earthquake struck 147 km E of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 15.0413°, 147.1179°. This earthquake was detected by 81 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 385, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.0 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 477 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.7 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
147.1179°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.0 earthquake near Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands?
The magnitude 5.0 earthquake that struck 147 km E of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands on October 11, 2023 at 01:50 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 15.0413°, 147.1179°, which is 147 km E of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.0 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks and gradually diminish over time.
Actions
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000lep0). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, October 11, 2023). M5.0 Earthquake 147 km E of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands — October 11, 2023. Retrieved September 25, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000lep0/