Northern Mariana Islands: Magnitude-6.3 earthquake occurs in North Pacific Ocean at around 19:55 April 2

A magnitude-6.3 earthquake occurred in the North Pacific Ocean, near the Northern Mariana Islands, at around 19:55 April 2. The epicenter was about 169 km (105 miles) northeast of Saipan. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 10 km (6 miles), and light shaking may have been felt in parts of the Northern Mariana Islands. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties as a result of the earthquake; significant damage is unlikely. It could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas. Aftershocks are possible over the coming days. The event has not prompted any tsunami advisories.

Officials may temporarily shut down transportation infrastructure in the tremor zone to check for damage. Minor disruptions could occur during shutdowns, but service will likely resume quickly if no damage is found. Utility outages are possible where shaking occurs.