M5.2 earthquake - 178 km N of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands

What happened

A magnitude 5.2 earthquake struck 178 km N of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands on 20 Mar 2021, 19:41 UTC at a depth of 176 km.

Earthquakes of this size are classed as Moderate. Can damage poorly built structures close to the epicentre. This was an intermediate-depth earthquake, so shaking is spread over a wider, gentler area.

The nearest town in our records is Saipan, about 179 km away in Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands.