Strong and shallow M6.4 earthquake hits east of Guam

strong-and-shallow-m6-4-earthquake-hits-east-of-guam

A strong and shallow earthquake registered by the USGS as M6.4 hit east of Guam at 05:52 UTC on September 23, 2018. The agency is reporting a depth of 10 km (6.2 miles). EMSC is reporting M6.4 at a depth of 38 km (23.6 miles).

According to the USGS, the epicenter was located 198 km (123 miles) SE of Inarajan Village (population 3 052) and 205.5 km (127.7 miles) SE of Yigo Village (population 20 539), Guam.

There are no people living within 100 km (62 miles).

Some 223 000 people are estimated to have felt weak shaking.

The USGS issued a green alert for shaking-related fatalities and economic losses. There is a low likelihood of casualties and damage.

Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are a mix of vulnerable and earthquake resistant construction. The predominant vulnerable building types are informal (metal, timber, GI etc.) and heavy wood frame construction.

Recent earthquakes in this area have caused secondary hazards such as landslides and liquefaction that might have contributed to losses.

Estimated population exposure to earthquake shaking

Selected cities exposed

Featured image credit: USGS, EMSC

Share:

Commenting rules and guidelines

We value the thoughts and opinions of our readers and welcome healthy discussions on our website. In order to maintain a respectful and positive community, we ask that all commenters follow these rules:

  • Treat others with kindness and respect.
  • Stay on topic and contribute to the conversation in a meaningful way.
  • Do not use abusive or hateful language.
  • Do not spam or promote unrelated products or services.
  • Do not post any personal information or content that is illegal, obscene, or otherwise inappropriate.

We reserve the right to remove any comments that violate these rules. By commenting on our website, you agree to abide by these guidelines. Thank you for helping to create a positive and welcoming environment for all.

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *