First published · Last updated
M 5.1 earthquake - 172 km ESE of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands
USGS reports a magnitude 5.1 earthquake located 172 km ESE of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands (14.3886, 147.1141) at a depth of 10 km. Report published 2026-09-16T08:37:00.012Z.
Categories: earthquake, seismic event, natural hazard
AI-generated scores
Scores are based on the cited reporting and use a 1–10 scale. Read the methodology.
- AI confidence
- 9/10
- Geographic reach
- 3/10
- Global importance
- 3/10
- Impact magnitude
- 4/10
- Positivity
- 2/10
- Urgency
- 4/10
Why it matters
A shallow Mw 5.1 event offshore near the Northern Mariana Islands can produce felt shaking on nearby islands and has potential for localized damage or disruption depending on local exposure and building resilience. It may also warrant monitoring for aftershocks and any sea-level or infrastructure effects in the region.