M6.3 earthquake - 242 km N of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands

What happened

A magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck 242 km N of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands on 23 Dec 1989, 11:24 UTC at a depth of 162 km.

Earthquakes of this size are classed as Strong. Can cause damage in populated areas up to tens of kilometres away. This was an intermediate-depth earthquake, so shaking is spread over a wider, gentler area.

The nearest town in our records is Saipan, about 242 km away in Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands.