M4.4 Earthquake 290 km N of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands — October 16, 2023
2023-10-16 20:05:40 UTC (2023-10-16) · approx. 6:05 AM UTC+10 local
On October 16, 2023 at 20:05 UTC, a magnitude 4.4 intermediate depth earthquake struck 290 km N of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, at a depth of 193.5 km and coordinates 17.8327°, 145.5341°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.4 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 60 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 655 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
145.5341°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.4 earthquake near Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands?
The magnitude 4.4 earthquake that struck 290 km N of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands on October 16, 2023 at 20:05 UTC had a depth of 193.5 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 4.4 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.4 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000lgxk). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, October 16, 2023). M4.4 Earthquake 290 km N of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands — October 16, 2023. Retrieved December 26, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000lgxk/