M5.3 Earthquake in the Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands — October 28, 2023
2023-10-28 08:08:13 UTC (2023-10-28) · approx. 6:08 PM UTC+10 local
On October 28, 2023 at 08:08 UTC, a magnitude 5.3 intermediate depth earthquake struck in the Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands, at a depth of 125.1 km and coordinates 18.1617°, 145.9463°. This earthquake was detected by 177 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 432, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.3 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 1 kilotons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 2.7 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
145.9463°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.3 earthquake in the Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands?
The magnitude 5.3 earthquake that struck in the Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands on October 28, 2023 at 08:08 UTC had a depth of 125.1 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 18.1617°, 145.9463°, which is in the Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.3 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks and gradually diminish over time.
Actions
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000l750). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, October 28, 2023). M5.3 Earthquake in the Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands — October 28, 2023. Retrieved October 13, 2025 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000l750/