M5.1 Earthquake 220 km NW of Fais, Micronesia — October 31, 2023
2023-10-31 01:11:07 UTC (2023-10-31) · approx. 10:11 AM UTC+9 local
Aftershock of the M5.9 mainshock.
On October 31, 2023 at 01:11 UTC, a magnitude 5.1 shallow crustal earthquake struck 220 km NW of Fais, Micronesia, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 11.2818°, 139.2163°. This earthquake was detected by 89 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 400, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.1 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 674 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 2.0 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
This earthquake is part of an ongoing aftershock sequence following the magnitude 5.9 mainshock that occurred 23 days ago 244 km NNE of Colonia, Micronesia. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 1 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
Earthquake Details
139.2163°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.1 earthquake near Fais, Micronesia?
The magnitude 5.1 earthquake that struck 220 km NW of Fais, Micronesia on October 31, 2023 at 01:11 UTC had a depth of 10.0 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 11.2818°, 139.2163°, which is 220 km NW of Fais, Micronesia.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.1 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.9 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 5.1 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.9 mainshock that occurred earlier 244 km NNE of Colonia, Micronesia. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
Actions
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000l7p6). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, October 31, 2023). M5.1 Earthquake 220 km NW of Fais, Micronesia — October 31, 2023. Retrieved January 10, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000l7p6/