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Undersea 6.7 quake jolts Guam, Rota, Saipan
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Posted on May 10 2008
An undersea earthquake with a magnitude of 6.7 jolted Guam, Saipan, and Rota yesterday morning.
There were no reports of damage to property or injuries in Guam and Saipan. A 6-magnitude earthquake can reportedly cause severe damage to property.
The staff said EMO will likely release a report today, Sunday.
EMO would normally immediately release an advisory to the media when an earthquake occurs in the CNMI.
Some Saipan residents said they felt the quake yesterday morning.
According to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center, the quake that struck at 7:51am at a depth of 54.4 miles failed to generate any destructive tsunami.
The U.S. Geological Survey in its report said the quake was centered 125 miles west-southwest of Hagatna, Guam and 180 miles southwest of Rota.
The center was also 250 miles southwest of Saipan and 315 miles south-southwest of Anatahan.
Last April 11, three earthquakes all with a magnitude of 5 jolted the NMI. There were no reports of damage or injuries.
Earthquakes are constantly occurring throughout the Mariana Island chain from Guam to Farallon De Pajaros, the northern most 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 the 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 damages, but Guam being closer did experience significant damages. 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.
