4.5

M4.5 Earthquake 137 km N of Saipan, Northern Mariana IslandsJune 9, 2023

2023-06-09 22:46:20 UTC (2023-06-09) · approx. 8:46 AM UTC+10 local

MagnitudeM4.5(mb)
Time22:46 UTC8:46 AM UTC+10
Depth143.9 kmintermediate depth
Coordinates16.458°, 145.732°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On June 9, 2023 at 22:46 UTC, a magnitude 4.5 intermediate depth earthquake struck 137 km N of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, at a depth of 143.9 km and coordinates 16.4579°, 145.7320°. This earthquake was detected by 57 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 312, placing it among routine seismic activity.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.5 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 85 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 767 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 16.46°, 145.73°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
4.5 mb
Depth
143.9 km
intermediate depth
Location
16.4579°N
145.7320°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us7000k7jw
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
312
Stations Used
57
Azimuthal Gap
80.0°
Min Station Distance
1.211°
RMS Residual
0.49 sec
Last Updated
2023-08-12 17:15:14 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 4.5 earthquake near Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands?

The magnitude 4.5 earthquake that struck 137 km N of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands on June 9, 2023 at 22:46 UTC had a depth of 143.9 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.

Where did the earthquake occur?

The earthquake epicenter was located at 16.4579°, 145.7320°, which is 137 km N of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands.

Were there aftershocks?

Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.5 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000k7jw). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, June 9, 2023). M4.5 Earthquake 137 km N of Saipan, Northern Mariana IslandsJune 9, 2023. Retrieved August 12, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000k7jw/