Akutan, Alaska – A magnitude 3.6 earthquake struck 49 kilometers east-southeast of Akutan on Sunday morning, prompting seismic monitoring across the eastern Aleutian Islands.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake occurred at 8:30 a.m. UTC at a depth of 57.8 kilometers beneath the seafloor. The event was reviewed and assigned a magnitude of 3.6 mb by the USGS National Earthquake Information Center.
The epicenter was located offshore in the North Pacific Ocean, southeast of Akutan and east of Unalaska. At nearly 58 kilometers deep, the quake is considered intermediate in depth, which typically reduces the likelihood of strong surface shaking.
There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries. The USGS ShakeMap indicated light or minimal shaking intensity near the epicenter, with no significant impacts expected for populated areas.
Alaska is one of the most seismically active regions in the world due to its location along the Pacific Ring of Fire. Earthquakes of this magnitude are common in the Aleutian arc, where the Pacific Plate subducts beneath the North American Plate.
While smaller quakes like this are rarely felt widely, they serve as reminders of the region’s constant tectonic movement. Events of this size are routinely recorded but typically do not disrupt daily activity for residents, fishermen, or students in nearby communities.
The USGS continues to monitor seismic activity in the area and will update information if additional aftershocks or changes are detected.
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