SAIPAN — A magnitude 5.8 earthquake struck southeast of Tinian at 9:06 a.m. Tuesday and was felt across the Marianas, prompting residents in villages across Saipan, Tinian, Rota, and Guam to report where they were when the shaking hit.
The quake occurred during NMI News Service’s live broadcast of “Good Morning Marianas,” with viewers flooding the live comments in real time as the shaking was felt. The broadcast captured host Brad Ruszala’s immediate on-air reaction as the earthquake began.
CNMI Homeland Security and Emergency Management later issued a tsunami statement at 9:25 a.m., saying there was no tsunami threat for the CNMI. HSEM said the quake was a preliminary magnitude 5.8 event that occurred about 48 miles southeast of Tinian at 9:06 a.m. CHST, at approximately 14.3N, 146.0E, at a depth of 78 miles.
As reports continued to come in, NMI News Service followed up with a phone call to National Weather Service meteorologist Landon Aydlett, who discussed conditions in Guam and what was being observed there.
No damage was reported. However, residents reported that the shaking was strong enough in some locations for people to take cover under desks and evacuate buildings. Comments and messages described people in schools, businesses, homes, and government offices ducking for cover and then moving outside as a precaution.
