M4.7 Earthquake 155 km ESE of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands — May 15, 2024
2024-05-15 09:49:01 UTC (2024-05-15) · approx. 7:49 PM UTC+10 local
Aftershock of the M5.1 mainshock.
On May 15, 2024 at 09:49 UTC, a magnitude 4.7 shallow crustal earthquake struck 155 km ESE of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 14.4974°, 147.0027°. This earthquake was detected by 33 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 340, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.7 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 169 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.1 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
This earthquake is part of an ongoing aftershock sequence following the magnitude 5.1 mainshock that occurred 26 days ago 162 km ESE of San Jose Village, Northern Mariana Islands. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 0 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
Earthquake Details
147.0027°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.7 earthquake near Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands?
The magnitude 4.7 earthquake that struck 155 km ESE of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands on May 15, 2024 at 09:49 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 14.4974°, 147.0027°, which is 155 km ESE of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.7 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.1 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.7 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.1 mainshock that occurred earlier 162 km ESE of San Jose Village, Northern Mariana Islands. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
Actions
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000n0ag). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, May 15, 2024). M4.7 Earthquake 155 km ESE of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands — May 15, 2024. Retrieved July 26, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000n0ag/