M4.7 Earthquake in the Mariana Islands region — March 8, 2026
2026-03-08 19:08:04 UTC (2026-03-08) · approx. 5:08 AM UTC+10 local
Aftershock of the M5.0 mainshock.
On March 8, 2026 at 19:08 UTC, a magnitude 4.7 deep-focus earthquake struck in the Mariana Islands region, at a depth of 303.3 km and coordinates 21.6323°, 143.1048°. This earthquake was detected by 105 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 340, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.7 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 169 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 1.1 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 5.0 mainshock that occurred 29 days ago in the Mariana Islands region. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 2 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
Earthquake Details
143.1048°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.7 earthquake in the Mariana Islands region?
The magnitude 4.7 earthquake that struck in the Mariana Islands region on March 8, 2026 at 19:08 UTC had a depth of 303.3 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 21.6323°, 143.1048°, which is in the Mariana Islands region.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.7 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.0 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.7 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.0 mainshock that occurred earlier in the Mariana Islands region. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
Actions
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us7000s30z). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, March 8, 2026). M4.7 Earthquake in the Mariana Islands region — March 8, 2026. Retrieved May 22, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000s30z/