Significant M5.7 Earthquake hit in the North Pacific Ocean near Saipan (Northern Mariana Islands) on Tuesday Morning.

Written by Earthquakelist.org on December 15th, 2025. Last updated December 16th, 2025.

In the North Pacific Ocean 96 kilometer from Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands, a significant M5.7 earthquake occurred in the morning of Tuesday December 16th, 2025. Around 230 thousand people have been exposed to shaking. Another country near the epicenter is Guam.

Earthquake Summary

This earthquake hit under water in the North Pacific Ocean, 67 kilometers (41 mi) off the coast of Northern Mariana Islands, 96 kilometer south of Saipan. The center of this earthquake had an intermediate depth of 100 km.

Date and Time:	Dec 16, 2025 09:06 (Saipan Time) - Dec 15, 2025 23:06 Universal Time.
Location:	96 km south of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands. Coordinates 14°21'0"N 145°50'21"E.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 5.7 Detected by 13 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.063 .
Depth:	100 km (62 mi) An intermediate depth.
Max. Intensity:	IV Light On the Modified Mercalli Scale.
Tsunami Risk:	Low tsunami risk Earthquakes under MAG-6.5 do not usually 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 230 thousand people exposed to shaking

An estimated 230 thousand have been exposed to shaking (An MMI or Modified Mercalli Intensity level II or higher) as a result of this earthquake according scientific estimates published by the USGS.

Light shaking and likely no damage may have been experienced by an estimated 45,800 people. At IV, it is the highest MMI level this earthquake has caused. Intensity level III was experienced by the majority of people (around 180 thousand). In their region, weak shaking and probably no damage can be expected.

People in 2 countries have been exposed to shaking. Roughly 170 thousand people were exposed to shaking in Guam , with level IV (light shaking, likely no damage) as the highest recorded. In Northern Mariana Islands , around 50 thousand people.

People	MMI Level	Shaking	Damage
0	I	Not noticable	None
0	II	Very weak	None
179,500	III	Weak	Probably none
45,800	IV	Light	Likely none
0	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

Northern Mariana Islands and Guam are both located within 300km distance of the epicenter of the earthquake.

Located 96 kilometer (60 mi) south of the epicenter of this earthquake, Saipan (Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands) is the nearest significant population center. The intensity of shaking and damage in Saipan is estimated to be around level III on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale (weak shaking, probably no damage).

The table below provides an overview of all places in proximity of today's earthquake. Where available, the estimated intensity on the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale in each place is included. Places where this information is omitted likely experienced little impact.

Overview of nearby places

Cities and Towns around the epicenter of this earthquake.
Distance	Place	Intensity (MMI)
96 km (60 mi) N from epicenter	Saipan Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands.	III Weak
137 km (85 mi) SW from epicenter	Yigo Village Yigo, Guam.	IV Light
142 km (88 mi) SW from epicenter	Dededo Village Dededo, Guam.	III Weak
149 km (93 mi) SW from epicenter	Tamuning-Tumon-Harmon Village Tamuning, Guam.	III Weak
149 km (93 mi) SW from epicenter	Tamuning Tamuning, Guam.	III Weak
150 km (93 mi) SW from epicenter	Mangilao Village Mangilao, Guam.	III Weak
153 km (95 mi) SW from epicenter	Hagåtña Hagatna, Guam.	III Weak
153 km (95 mi) SW from epicenter	Guam Government House Hagatna, Guam.	III Weak

Earthquake Intensity Map

The maximum intensity (MMI Scale) caused by this earthquake is IV. 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.

I Not felt

II Weak

III Weak

IV Light

V Moderate

VI Strong

VII Very Strong

VIII Severe

IX Violent

X Extreme

Earthquake Intensity Map based on Shakemap Data provided by USGS.

Shaking reported by 1 person

People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 1 person has reported shaking in one place in Northern Mariana Islands.We keep updating this article as more ground reports become available. You may report that you felt this earthquake here.

Places with most reports:

Garapan, Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands: 1 person.

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.

In only six percent of cases, significant earthquakes are followed by a larger main shock, making the current earthquake a foreshock. While the chance of this happening is not so large, it is adviced to maintain cautiousness in the hours and days following a major earthquake.

Read: How to Stay Safe during an Earthquake (cdc.gov).

Earthquakes like this are common in the region

Earthquakes of this strength occur quite regularly in the region. This is the strongest earthquake to hit since August 10th, 2025, when a 5.9 magnitude earthquake hit 158 km (98 mi) further south. An even stronger magnitude 6.4 earthquake struck on August 28th, 2018.

In total, 10 earthquakes with a magnitude of 5.7 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 year.

Low tsunami risk

DISCLAIMER: We strongly suggest to closely monitor advice from local authorities with regards to tsunami risks. Our analysis is based on automatically collected data from external sources, and these might contain mistakes. In addition, earthquakes can cause landslides that may lead to a tsunami, or be a followed by another, potentially stonger, earthquake.

Based on early data it appears this earthquake was not strong enough (lower than MAG-6.5) to be likely to cause destructive tsunami's. However this earthquake appeared to have hit at a shallow depth under sea, so 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 5.7. Earthquakes of this strength are unlikely to trigger a tsunami.	This earthquake occurred at a depth of of 100 km (62 mi). Earthquakes this shallow could trigger a tsunami.

Sources

Last updated 16/12/25 16:28 (). This article contains currently available information about the earthquake and is automatically composed. We continue to update this article up to a few days after the earthquake occurred.