5.2

M5.2 Earthquake in the Maug Islands region, Northern Mariana IslandsSeptember 8, 2023

2023-09-08 10:54:47 UTC (2023-09-08) · approx. 8:54 PM UTC+10 local

MagnitudeM5.2(mb)
Time10:54 UTC8:54 PM UTC+10
Depth133.8 kmintermediate depth
Coordinates19.039°, 145.828°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On September 8, 2023 at 10:54 UTC, a magnitude 5.2 intermediate depth earthquake struck in the Maug Islands region, Northern Mariana Islands, at a depth of 133.8 km and coordinates 19.0392°, 145.8277°. This earthquake was detected by 207 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 416, placing it among routine seismic activity.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.2 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 951 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 2.3 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 19.04°, 145.83°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
5.2 mb
Depth
133.8 km
intermediate depth
Location
19.0392°N
145.8277°E

Technical Information

Event ID
us7000ku6k
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
416
Stations Used
207
Azimuthal Gap
40.0°
Min Station Distance
3.784°
RMS Residual
0.58 sec
Last Updated
2025-08-23 17:45:17 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 5.2 earthquake in the Maug Islands region, Northern Mariana Islands?

The magnitude 5.2 earthquake that struck in the Maug Islands region, Northern Mariana Islands on September 8, 2023 at 10:54 UTC had a depth of 133.8 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.

Where did the earthquake occur?

The earthquake epicenter was located at 19.0392°, 145.8277°, which is in the Maug Islands region, Northern Mariana Islands.

Were there aftershocks?

Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.2 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks and gradually diminish over time.

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000ku6k). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, September 8, 2023). M5.2 Earthquake in the Maug Islands region, Northern Mariana IslandsSeptember 8, 2023. Retrieved August 23, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000ku6k/