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5.3 quake jolts Marianas
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Posted on Jan 27 2012
By Ferdie de la Torre
Reporter
Reporter
A 5.3-magnitude earthquake occurred near Rota yesterday afternoon and the temblor was also felt on Saipan, Tinian, and Guam.
Emergency Management Office director Jack Omar told Saipan Tribune that there were no immediate reports of injuries and damage to property on Rota. EMO also did not receive reports of injuries or property damage on Saipan, Tinian, and Guam.
Omar called the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center and was told that no tsunami threat is expected for the Marianas region.
Omar said the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center normally issues a notice of tsunami threat when the earthquake’s magnitude is at least 6.0.
According to EMO and the U.S. Geological Services, the temblor occurred at 2:42pm (Saipan time) at a depth of 117 kilometers.
The epicenter was about 74 miles south southwest of Saipan, 146 miles south southwest of Anatahan, and 11 miles north northwest of Rota.
The temblor lasted several seconds.
Omar said the reason for the earthquake was probably the shifting of tectonic plates, which is normal. Many people on Saipan felt the earthquake probably because the epicenter was very close to the island, he said.
A Superior Court staff said she was on her computer when she noticed the bookshelf shake for about two seconds.
A student of Marianas High School said she was inside the classroom when the room was jolted for about three seconds. She said there was no panic at school.
CNMI deputy marshal Jess Santos said he was at the CNMI courts’ screening area when police officers came down the stairs, stating there’s an earthquake. Santos said no one was running and that he did not even feel it.
