M4.8 Earthquake in the Mariana Islands region — July 13, 2020
2020-07-13 19:38:35 UTC (2020-07-13) · approx. 5:38 AM UTC+10 local
Aftershock of the M5.0 mainshock.
On July 13, 2020 at 19:38 UTC, a magnitude 4.8 intermediate depth earthquake struck in the Mariana Islands region, at a depth of 295.0 km and coordinates 21.7005°, 143.0757°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.8 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 239 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.2 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 5.0 mainshock that occurred 17 days ago in the Mariana Islands region. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 1 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
Earthquake Details
143.0757°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.8 earthquake in the Mariana Islands region?
The magnitude 4.8 earthquake that struck in the Mariana Islands region on July 13, 2020 at 19:38 UTC had a depth of 295.0 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 21.7005°, 143.0757°, which is in the Mariana Islands region.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.8 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.0 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.8 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.0 mainshock that occurred earlier in the Mariana Islands region. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
Actions
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000amw8). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2020, July 13, 2020). M4.8 Earthquake in the Mariana Islands region — July 13, 2020. Retrieved December 22, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000amw8/