M4.2 Earthquake 153 km ENE of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands — March 10, 2023
2023-03-10 22:09:50 UTC (2023-03-10) · approx. 8:09 AM UTC+10 local
On March 10, 2023 at 22:09 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 shallow crustal earthquake struck 153 km ENE of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, at a depth of 29.7 km and coordinates 15.9383°, 146.9761°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.2 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 30 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 476 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Earthquake Details
146.9761°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.2 earthquake near Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands?
The magnitude 4.2 earthquake that struck 153 km ENE of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands on March 10, 2023 at 22:09 UTC had a depth of 29.7 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 4.2 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Actions
Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.2 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000jk6j). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, March 10, 2023). M4.2 Earthquake 153 km ENE of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands — March 10, 2023. Retrieved May 15, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000jk6j/