M4.2 Earthquake 265 km N of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands — August 24, 2023
2023-08-24 21:12:04 UTC (2023-08-24) · approx. 7:12 AM UTC+10 local
On August 24, 2023 at 21:12 UTC, a magnitude 4.2 intermediate depth earthquake struck 265 km N of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, at a depth of 193.5 km and coordinates 17.6086°, 145.8182°.
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
145.8182°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 265 km N of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands on August 24, 2023 at 21:12 UTC had a depth of 193.5 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.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.2 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000ks42). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, August 24, 2023). M4.2 Earthquake 265 km N of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands — August 24, 2023. Retrieved October 28, 2023 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000ks42/