M3.9 Earthquake 272 km N of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands — October 15, 2023
2023-10-15 20:56:50 UTC (2023-10-15) · approx. 6:56 AM UTC+10 local
On October 15, 2023 at 20:56 UTC, a magnitude 3.9 intermediate depth earthquake struck 272 km N of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, at a depth of 258.3 km and coordinates 17.6662°, 145.5369°.
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.
Earthquake Details
145.5369°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 3.9 earthquake near Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands?
The magnitude 3.9 earthquake that struck 272 km N of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands on October 15, 2023 at 20:56 UTC had a depth of 258.3 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.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 3.9 earthquakes are typically only recorded by instruments.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000lgv7). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, October 15, 2023). M3.9 Earthquake 272 km N of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands — October 15, 2023. Retrieved December 26, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000lgv7/