Another quake hits Marianas, no damage reported

Another earthquake hit the Marianas Wednesday, occurring just a couple of hours after a 6.3 earthquake jolted the islands, according to the Emergency Management Office and the U.S. National Geological Survey.

The USGS National Earthquake Information Center in Denver, Colorado reported that an earthquake registered 4.7 on the Richter scale at about 6:09pm. This, however, was not felt by residents on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.

The quake’s epicenter was located about 50 miles north-northwest of Farallon de Pajaros, 420 miles north of Saipan, and 530 miles north of Guam.

NEC recorded the depth of the quake at some 85.1 miles below the seabed.

EMO indicated that the quake, which lasted several seconds, had no connection to the ongoing volcanic activity at Anatahan and was not felt by residents.

Earlier, a 6.3 quake struck the Marianas region at 12:30pm on Wednesday, raising concerns of a possible tsunami, which was immediately scotched by EMO after consulting the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Hawaii. NEC earlier registered the quake as magnitude 6.2. It was later adjusted to 6.3.

EMO director Rudolfo Pua said that, based on his communication with the Tsunami Warning Center, a tsunami watch is not issued unless a quake 7.0 or stronger registers on the Richter scale.

NEC located the quake’s epicenter at about 35 miles west of Rota, 100 miles southwest of Saipan, 170 miles south-southwest of Anatahan, and 40 miles north of Guam.

No damage were reported from the two quakes.

Meanwhile, Anatahan continues to erupt, with explosions occurring about every 10 seconds, according to the latest joint report from EMO and the USGS.

The agencies indicated that based on recorded seismic amplitudes, the eruption peaked Wednesday, with its magnitude registering at about 10 percent stronger than its previous high.

EMO and USGS further indicated that in the last 24 hours, the amplitudes have slowly diminished by about 40 percent from Wednesday’s peak.

Ash continues to rise to about 10,000 feet from the crater and a plume of vog and ash trails about 50 nautical miles or more downwind.

Anatahan remains off limits aside from scientific expeditions by EMO and USGS personnel. Late last month, Gov. Juan N. Babauta extended the emergency declaration for the island due to its continuous volcanic activity.

The current eruption is the third since the island erupted in 2003 after centuries of dormancy.

EMO and DPH reminds the public that the previously issued volcanic ash and haze alert remains in effect as prevailing northeasterly winds continues to carry ash across Saipan, Tinian, and Rota, reaching as far as Guam.