Pacific Ocean: A magnitude-6.3 offshore earthquake occurs east of the Northern Mariana Islands at around 21:36 Sept. 16

A magnitude-6.3 earthquake occurred in the western Pacific Ocean to the east of the Northern Mariana Islands at around 21:36 Sept. 16. The epicenter was about 262 km (163 miles) northeast of Saipan. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 43 km (27 miles), and light shaking was probably felt in parts of the Northern Mariana Islands. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties as a result of the earthquake; however, significant damage is unlikely due to the offshore nature of the quake. It could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas. Moderate aftershocks are likely 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, particularly near the earthquake's epicenter.