4.0

M4.0 Earthquake 267 km N of Saipan, Northern Mariana IslandsMarch 19, 2023

2023-03-19 20:13:41 UTC (2023-03-19) · approx. 6:13 AM UTC+10 local

MagnitudeM4.0(mb)
Time20:13 UTC6:13 AM UTC+10
Depth265.4 kmintermediate depth
Coordinates17.602°, 145.378°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On March 19, 2023 at 20:13 UTC, a magnitude 4.0 intermediate depth earthquake struck 267 km N of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, at a depth of 265.4 km and coordinates 17.6021°, 145.3779°.

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.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 17.60°, 145.38°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.0 mb
Depth
265.4 km
intermediate depth
Location
17.6021°N
145.3779°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us7000jmff
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
246
Stations Used
21
Azimuthal Gap
98.0°
Min Station Distance
2.381°
RMS Residual
0.63 sec
Last Updated
2023-05-26 21:54:16 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.0 earthquake near Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands?

The magnitude 4.0 earthquake that struck 267 km N of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands on March 19, 2023 at 20:13 UTC had a depth of 265.4 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.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 4.0 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000jmff). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, March 19, 2023). M4.0 Earthquake 267 km N of Saipan, Northern Mariana IslandsMarch 19, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000jmff/