What the record shows for Northern Mariana Islands
The strongest earthquake on record near Northern Mariana Islands is a magnitude 7.7 in 2016, centred Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands - 10 years ago. The event is catalogued by USGS. See the event record.
Over the last 20 years, USGS has catalogued 3,511 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater within 333 km of Northern Mariana Islands - roughly 176 a year. That rate describes how often the ground moves enough to be recorded, not how often damage occurs; most of these are never felt.
The NOAA NCEI database records 2 tsunamis within 333 km of Northern Mariana Islands between 1990 and 2010. The most significant was in 1990 near Mariana Trench, N. Mariana Islands, triggered by an M7.5 earthquake.
13 volcanoes are catalogued near Northern Mariana Islands, including South Sarigan Seamount, Anatahan, Sarigan, Zealandia Bank, East Diamante, Guguan and 7 more. Volcanic systems generate their own earthquake swarms, which is why activity here can look different from a purely tectonic region.
Sources: USGS earthquake catalog, NOAA tsunami database, and the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. Figures update as the catalogs are revised.
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The Northern Marianas lie along the Mariana subduction zone, with a chain of active volcanoes and constant offshore seismicity.
The only real protection is a warning the moment the ground moves - which is exactly what the free QuakeMate app gives you, along with tsunami and volcano alerts for Northern Mariana Islands.
Earthquake risk in Northern Mariana Islands - FAQ
Is Northern Mariana Islands at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 176 quakes a year nearby of magnitude 4+ within 333 km, based on the last 20 years of USGS data. The strongest earthquake on record nearby is M7.7 in 2016.
What was the biggest earthquake in Northern Mariana Islands?
The strongest earthquake on record near Northern Mariana Islands is M7.7, in 2016 (Pagan region, Northern Mariana Islands), from USGS.
Does Northern Mariana Islands get tsunamis?
Yes - 2 tsunamis since 1990 (most recently 2010) within 333 km, from the NOAA database.
How do I get earthquake warnings in Northern Mariana Islands?
Download the free QuakeMate app for iPhone. It watches your location and sends a real-time push the instant a quake strikes nearby, plus tsunami and volcano alerts, with custom magnitude and distance rules. On Android, join the waitlist.