2 strong quakes hit Marianas

The Marianas region was shaken by a 5.4 magnitude earthquake as people of the island chain were just about to get up for work at 6:06am Thursday morning. A 5.3 magnitude temblor hit Rota the following day.

According to Emergency Management Office geophysical seismic technician Juan Camacho, a medium-sized tremor hit the Marianas on March 27 at a depth of 64.7 miles with its epicenter located 15 miles northeast of Hagatna, Guam; 45 miles south-southwest of Rota, 125 miles south-southwest of Saipan, and 195 miles south-southwest of Anatahan.

Camacho said the moderate temblor did not generate any destructive Pacific-wide tsunami and the EMO did not issue any tsunami warning.

He did, however, said that the 5.4 magnitude earthquake was the strongest tremor EMO recorded so far this year.

Camacho said no injuries to persons or damage to property has been reported so far in the CNMI due to the earthquake.

Yesterday morning, Rota experienced a similar strength earthquake a little over 24 hours after Thursday’s plate-to-plate activity, as an earthquake with preliminary magnitude of 5.3 on the Reichter scale shook the CNMI’s northernmost island.

The epicenter of the quake was 10 miles west of Rota, 85 miles south-southwest of Saipan, 80 south-southwest of Tinian, and 155 miles south southwest of Anatahan.

Like the previous day’s temblor, yesterday’s earthquake did not generate a destructive Pacific-wide tsunami and no tsunami threat was declared in the Marianas.

Camacho said that besides the two earthquakes, the islands also experienced identical 4.7 magnitude earthquakes on Jan. 7 and 13 and a 4.6 magnitude shaker on Jan. 6.

According to EMO, earthquakes are constantly occurring throughout the Mariana Island chain from Guam to Farallon De Pajaros, the northernmost island of the CNMI.

Most of these earthquakes are minor tremors or movements that are not felt by residents of the islands but are recorded in the seismograph instruments at EMO.

The most recent major earthquake that struck the CNMI occurred in August 1993 near Guam registering 8.1 on the Reichter scale. Fortunately, the epicenter was deep and the CNMI only experienced minor damage, but Guam being closer did experience significant damage. The islands of the CNMI sits on the Philippine sea plate, a seismically active region known as the “Ring of Fire” that is being uplifted by the Pacific sea plate.

The EMO, meanwhile, reported that seismicity at Anatahan remains elevated, though it has quieted slightly over the past 72 hours. Elevated seismicity may accompany increased venting of steam, ash, and/or gas by the volcano.

Access to the island may be restricted by the CNMI government. Contact the EMO to get the latest information (322-8001/2/4).