M4.8 earthquake — 159 km ESE of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands
An magnitude 4.8 earthquake occurred 159 km ESE of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands on Aug 17, 2026 at 06:55 UTC. The epicenter was at a depth of 10 km — a shallow earthquake. Shallow quakes concentrate their energy near the surface, so they tend to produce stronger shaking close to the epicenter.
Event data
| Magnitude | M4.8 |
|---|---|
| Depth | 10.0 km |
| Coordinates | 14.595, 147.093 |
| Time | Aug 17, 06:55 UTC |
| Location | 159 km ESE of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands |
| USGS event ID | usd0015ecf |
What this magnitude typically means
Light earthquakes are felt by most people nearby but rarely cause damage. Distance, depth, and soil type determine whether a quake feels sharp or barely noticeable. Tremor does not compute a single local shaking figure here, because how strong a quake feels at any address depends on distance, depth and local geology — open the interactive globe to explore the ShakeMap and estimated intensity.
Source: USGS earthquake catalog. Automated readings may be revised. Not for emergency use.