3.8

M3.8 Earthquake 24 km W of Saipan, Northern Mariana IslandsMarch 28, 2025

2025-03-28 20:37:22 UTC (2025-03-28) · approx. 6:37 AM UTC+10 local

MagnitudeM3.8(mb)
Time20:37 UTC6:37 AM UTC+10
Depth221.9 kmintermediate depth
Coordinates15.232°, 145.523°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On March 28, 2025 at 20:37 UTC, a magnitude 3.8 intermediate depth earthquake struck 24 km W of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, at a depth of 221.9 km and coordinates 15.2315°, 145.5228°.

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.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 15.23°, 145.52°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
3.8 mb
Depth
221.9 km
intermediate depth
Location
15.2315°N
145.5228°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000q4k6
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
222
Stations Used
26
Azimuthal Gap
111.0°
Min Station Distance
0.257°
RMS Residual
0.78 sec
Last Updated
2025-06-06 21:12:22 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 3.8 earthquake near Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands?

The magnitude 3.8 earthquake that struck 24 km W of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands on March 28, 2025 at 20:37 UTC had a depth of 221.9 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.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 3.8 earthquakes are typically only recorded by instruments.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000q4k6). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2025, March 28, 2025). M3.8 Earthquake 24 km W of Saipan, Northern Mariana IslandsMarch 28, 2025. Retrieved June 6, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000q4k6/