M4.2 Earthquake in the Maug Islands region, Northern Mariana Islands — December 29, 2023
2023-12-29 17:53:58 UTC (2023-12-29) · approx. 3:53 AM UTC+10 local
On December 29, 2023 at 17:53 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 intermediate depth earthquake struck in the Maug Islands region, Northern Mariana Islands, at a depth of 201.4 km and coordinates 19.0123°, 145.0332°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.2 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 30 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 476 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
145.0332°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake in the Maug Islands region, Northern Mariana Islands?
The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck in the Maug Islands region, Northern Mariana Islands on December 29, 2023 at 17:53 UTC had a depth of 201.4 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 4.2 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.2 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000m2qp). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, December 29, 2023). M4.2 Earthquake in the Maug Islands region, Northern Mariana Islands — December 29, 2023. Retrieved March 2, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000m2qp/