Photo: USGS
A 6.8-magnitude earthquake struck the Northern Mariana Islands on Friday (April 5), according to the United States Geological Survey.
The natural disaster was located in the Maug Islands region and centered at a depth of 222.0 kilometers (136.7 miles). A total 38 people said they felt the earthquake at the time of publication Friday morning, according to the USGS.
The Northern Mariana Islands region was previously struck by a 6.2-magnitude earthquake on Tuesday (April 2). The natural disaster was located northeast of Saipan in the Pacific Ocean and centered at a depth of 10 kilometers (6.21 miles).
The latest Northern Mariana Islands earthquake was reported hours after two struck the same California city on Thursday (April 4). A 4.8-magnitude earthquake struck Belden shortly after a 4.5-magnitude earthquake.
The latter natural disaster was reported to be centered at a depth of 7.8 kilometers (4.8 miles), while the former centered at a depth of -1.0 kilometers (-0.621 miles).
The latest Northern Mariana Islands incident was also reported days after 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck Taiwan. At least nine people died and more than 900 others were injured in the Hualien City natural disaster, which was the strongest to hit Taiwan in 25 years.
Last week, a 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck the Vanuatu region. The natural disaster was located east of Australia in the Pacific Ocean and centered at a depth of 10 kilometers (6.21 miles).
A 7.1-magnitude earthquake had previously struck Vanuatu in December. The natural disaster was located about 76 miles south of the town of Isangel on the island of Tanna and centered at a depth of 30 miles.
A 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck Papua New Guinea on March 23. The natural disaster was located in Ambunti and centered at a depth of 35.4 kilometers (about 22 miles).