2007 Mariana Islands earthquake

The October 2007 Mariana Islands earthquake occurred on October 31 at 13:30 local time (03:30 UTC) in the Pagan region of the Mariana Islands. The magnitude of this earthquake is M_w 7.2. The epicenter was 410 km from Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands and 605 km from Hagåtña, Guam. Intensity of MM IV was recorded in Saipan and part of Guam.

The earthquake was in the region where the Pacific Plate subducts beneath the Mariana Plate. Although the broad-scale tectonics of this region are dominated by the subduction of the Pacific Plate beneath the Philippine Sea Plate, the Pacific Plate does not reach the Philippine Sea Plate in this region, as the Mariana Plate is located in between. The Pacific Plate thrusts under the Mariana Plate at the Mariana Trench, and the Mariana Plate is separated from the Philippine Sea Plate by a spreading ridge, the Mariana Trough.