M6.5 earthquake - 248 km N of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands

What happened

A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck 248 km N of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands on 9 Jun 1996, 01:12 UTC at a depth of 149 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 249 km away in Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands.