M5.0 Earthquake 207 km NNW of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands — April 20, 2024
2024-04-20 03:42:24 UTC (2024-04-20) · approx. 1:42 PM UTC+10 local
On April 20, 2024 at 03:42 UTC, a magnitude 5.0 deep-focus earthquake struck 207 km NNW of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, at a depth of 489.7 km and coordinates 17.0523°, 145.3641°. This earthquake was detected by 123 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
145.3641°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 207 km NNW of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands on April 20, 2024 at 03:42 UTC had a depth of 489.7 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 17.0523°, 145.3641°, which is 207 km NNW 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: us7000mde4). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2024, April 20, 2024). M5.0 Earthquake 207 km NNW of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands — April 20, 2024. Retrieved April 5, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000mde4/