M3.8 Earthquake 272 km N of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands — January 3, 2025
2025-01-03 21:30:05 UTC (2025-01-03) · approx. 7:30 AM UTC+10 local
On January 3, 2025 at 21:30 UTC, a magnitude 3.8 deep-focus earthquake struck 272 km N of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, at a depth of 338.6 km and coordinates 17.6346°, 145.3132°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 3.8 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 7.6 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 252 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
145.3132°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 3.8 earthquake near Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands?
The magnitude 3.8 earthquake that struck 272 km N of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands on January 3, 2025 at 21:30 UTC had a depth of 338.6 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 3.8 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 3.8 earthquakes are typically only recorded by instruments.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000pk77). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2025, January 3, 2025). M3.8 Earthquake 272 km N of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands — January 3, 2025. Retrieved March 17, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000pk77/