Earthquakes in the Northern Mariana Islands — September 2026

2 earthquakes were recorded in the Northern Mariana Islands during September 2026, an average of 0.1 per day.

2 reached magnitude 4 or above and 2 reached magnitude 5 or above. The average focal depth was 60 km.

The month's largest event in the Northern Mariana Islands was a magnitude 5.1 earthquake near Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands on 16 September 2026 at 08:37 UTC. A magnitude 5.1 earthquake radiates roughly 674 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.

That is below the the Northern Mariana Islands monthly average of 3 events over the period we cover — a comparatively quiet month, and down from the 6 recorded the previous month.

50% of events here are shallow (under 70 km), 50% intermediate (70–300 km) and 0% deep-focus (over 300 km). A substantial share of intermediate-depth events points to a subducting slab beneath the region rather than purely crustal faulting.

By band, the catalogue holds 2 in the magnitude 5 range.

Activity peaked on 16 September, when 2 events were recorded.

The month's largest events were M5.1 near Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands on 16 September at 10 km; M5.1 near San Jose Village, Northern Mariana Islands on 16 September at 111 km.

That is 40% below the 3 events the Northern Mariana Islands averages per month across the 22 months on record.