In the Philippine Sea 49 kilometer from Dededo Village, Guam, a significant MAG-5.5 earthquake occurred in the afternoon of Tuesday January 21st, 2025. Around 220 thousand people have been exposed to shaking. Northern Mariana Islands is also near its epicenter.
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Earthquake Summary
This earthquake hit under water in the Philippine Sea, 28 kilometers (17 mi) off the coast of Guam, 49 kilometer west of Dededo Village in Dededo. The center of this earthquake had an intermediate depth of 137 km.
| Date and Time: | Jan 21, 2025 15:47 (Guam Time) - Jan 21, 2025 05:47 Universal Time. |
|---|---|
| Location: | 49 km west of Dededo Village, Dededo, Guam. Coordinates 13°26'4"N 144°23'49"E. |
| Map: |  Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps. |
| Magnitude: | MAG 5.5 Detected by 15 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.065 . |
| Depth: | 137 km (85 mi) An intermediate depth. |
| Max. Intensity: | V
Moderate On the Modified Mercalli Scale. |
| Tsunami Risk: | Tsunami very unlikely Earthquakes under MAG-6.5 at depths deeper than 100km are very unlikely to cause tsunami's. Always stay cautious - More info here. |
Minimal impact predicted
Based on scientific estimates by the US Geographic Survey (USGS), the risk of high fatalities for this earthquake is classified at level GREEN (low). They expect an 65% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 fatalities, and a 96% chance that the number of fatalities falls no higher than 10.
The USGS classifies the economic impact of this earthquake at level GREEN (low). They expect an 65% likelyhood of between 0 and 1 million US Dollars in economic damage and impact, and a 96% chance that the economic impact of this earthquake falls no higher than 10 million USD.
Roughly 220 thousand people exposed to shaking
This earthquake may have been felt by around 220 thousand people. That is the expected population size of the area exposed to a level of shaking of II or higher on the Modified Mercalli scale according to the USGS.
An estimated 17,580 people were exposed to level V. At this level, moderate shaking and very light damage can be expected. Intensity level IV was experienced by the majority of people (around 160 thousand). In their region, light shaking and likely no damage can be expected.
People in 2 countries have been exposed to shaking. In Guam , around 180 thousand people, with impact levels up to V (moderate shaking, very light damage). In Northern Mariana Islands , around 50 thousand people.
| People | MMI Level | Shaking | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | I |
Not noticable | None |
| 23,120 | II |
Very weak | None |
| 26,930 | III |
Weak | Probably none |
| 157,000 | IV |
Light | Likely none |
| 17,580 | V |
Moderate | Very light |
| 0 | VI |
Strong | Light |
| 0 | VII |
Very Strong | Moderate |
| 0 | VIII |
Severe | Moderate to heavy |
| 0 | IX |
Violent | Heavy |
| 0 | X |
Extreme | Very heavy |
Nearby towns and cities
2 countries can be found within 300km of the epicenter of this earthquake: Guam and Northern Mariana Islands .
The closest significant population center near the earthquake is Guam Government House in Hagatna, Guam. Guam Government House is located 38 kilometer (24 mi) west of the epicenter. The intensity of shaking and damage in Guam Government House is estimated to be around level IV on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale (light shaking, likely no damage).
An overview of nearby towns and cities is available in the overview below. If places don't have intensity data available, it likely means the experienced impact in those places was fairly small.
Overview of nearby places
| Distance | Place | Intensity (MMI) |
|---|---|---|
| 38 km (24 mi) E from epicenter |
Hagåtña Hagatna, Guam. |
IV
Light |
| 38 km (24 mi) E from epicenter |
Guam Government House Hagatna, Guam. |
IV
Light |
| 42 km (26 mi) E from epicenter |
Tamuning-Tumon-Harmon Village Tamuning, Guam. |
IV
Light |
| 42 km (26 mi) E from epicenter |
Tamuning Tamuning, Guam. |
IV
Light |
| 44 km (27 mi) E from epicenter |
Mangilao Village Mangilao, Guam. |
V
Moderate |
| 49 km (30 mi) E from epicenter |
Dededo Village Dededo, Guam. |
IV
Light |
| 54 km (34 mi) ENE from epicenter |
Yigo Village Yigo, Guam. |
IV
Light |
| 246 km (153 mi) NE from epicenter |
Saipan Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands. |
II
Weak |
Earthquake Intensity Map
The maximum intensity (MMI Scale) caused by this earthquake is V. The map below shows in which areas this earthquake was the most and least impactful. It is based on data from the US Geographic Survey.
Risk of aftershocks?
We monitor for foreshocks or aftershocks that have a magnitude of 2.5+ and occur within 100km (62 mi) of the epicenter of this earthquake. So far no such earthquakes have been detected.
Earthquakes can create aftershocks. These are generally at least 1 magnitude lower than any main shock, and as time passes the chance and strength of aftershocks decreases.
The chance that a significant earthquake like this one is followed by an even larger earthquake is not so large. On average, scientists estimate a 94% chance that a major earthquake will not be followed by an even larger one. It is still adviced to be aware of this risk
Read: How to Stay Safe during an Earthquake (cdc.gov).Earthquakes like this happen often in the region
Earthquakes of this strength are very common in the region. This is the strongest earthquake to hit since September 14th, 2024, when a 5.5 magnitude earthquake hit 47 km (30 mi) further south-southwest. An even stronger magnitude 6 earthquake struck on February 13th, 2022.
In total, 24 earthquakes with a magnitude of 5.5 or higher have been registered within 300km (186 mi) of this epicenter in the past 10 years. This comes down to an average of once every 5 months.
Tsunami very unlikely
For a serious tsunami to occur, earthquakes usually need to have a magnitude of at least 6.5 and occur at a shallow depth of maximum 100km. Neither are the case with this earthquake. However always stay cautious and monitor advice from local authorities.
Tsunami Risk Factors
| Factor | Under Sea? | MAG-6.5 or stronger? | Shallow depth? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Explanation | Almost all tsunami's are caused by earthquakes with their epicenter under sea or very near the sea. However stay cautious in coastal areas as earthquakes on land may cause landslides into sea, potentially still causing a local tsunami. | Under MAG 6.5: Very unlikely to cause a tsunami. MAG 6.5 to 7.5: Destructive tsunami's do occur, but are uncommon. Likely to observe small sea level changes. MAG 7.6+: Earthquakes with these magnitudes might produce destructive tsunami's. |
Most destructive tsunami's are caused by shallow earthquakes with a depth between 0 and 100km under the surface of the earth. Deeper tsunami's are unlikely to displace to ocean floor. |
| This Earthquake | This earthquake appears to have struck under the sea. | Not this earthquake. This earthquake had a magnitude of 5.5. Earthquakes of this strength are unlikely to trigger a tsunami. |
Not this earthquake. This earthquake occurred at a depth of 137 km (85 mi). Earthquakes this deep in the earth are unlikely to trigger a tsunami. |
Sources
Last updated 29/01/25 00:08 (). As more information on this earthquake becomes available this article will be updated. This article is automatically composed based on data originating from multiple sources.
- US Geographic Society (USGS): Earthquake us6000pldf
- European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC): Earthquake 20250121_0000067
- Geonames.org: World Cities Database
- Google Maps: Static API
- Earthquakelist.org: Historic Earthquakes Database
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