M4.2 Earthquake 149 km NNW of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands — December 30, 2023
2023-12-30 22:19:31 UTC (2023-12-30) · approx. 8:19 AM UTC+10 local
On December 30, 2023 at 22:19 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 deep-focus earthquake struck 149 km NNW of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, at a depth of 311.4 km and coordinates 16.5191°, 145.4075°.
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
145.4075°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake near Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands?
The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck 149 km NNW of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands on December 30, 2023 at 22:19 UTC had a depth of 311.4 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: us6000m2rz). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, December 30, 2023). M4.2 Earthquake 149 km NNW of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands — December 30, 2023. Retrieved March 2, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000m2rz/