M5.0 Earthquake 259 km NE of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands — March 29, 2024
2024-03-29 02:02:42 UTC (2024-03-29) · approx. 12:02 PM UTC+10 local
On March 29, 2024 at 02:02 UTC, a magnitude 5.0 shallow crustal earthquake struck 259 km NE of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, at a depth of 25.2 km and coordinates 17.0130°, 147.3137°. This earthquake was detected by 103 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 385, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.0 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 477 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.7 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
Earthquake Details
147.3137°E
Technical Information
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.0 earthquake near Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands?
The magnitude 5.0 earthquake that struck 259 km NE of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands on March 29, 2024 at 02:02 UTC had a depth of 25.2 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 17.0130°, 147.3137°, which is 259 km NE of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.0 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks and gradually diminish over time.
Actions
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000m8p1). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, March 29, 2024). M5.0 Earthquake 259 km NE of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands — March 29, 2024. Retrieved December 13, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000m8p1/