M4.0 Earthquake in the Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands — December 30, 2022
2022-12-30 20:16:24 UTC (2022-12-30) · approx. 6:16 AM UTC+10 local
On December 30, 2022 at 20:16 UTC, a magnitude 4.0 intermediate depth earthquake struck in the Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands, at a depth of 248.8 km and coordinates 18.7532°, 145.2830°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.0 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 15 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 347 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Earthquake Details
145.2830°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.0 earthquake in the Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands?
The magnitude 4.0 earthquake that struck in the Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands on December 30, 2022 at 20:16 UTC had a depth of 248.8 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 4.0 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Actions
Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.0 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000j3pc). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2022, December 30, 2022). M4.0 Earthquake in the Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands — December 30, 2022. Retrieved March 7, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000j3pc/