Yakutat, AK – A rapid sequence of strong earthquakes shook the Wrangell–St. Elias National Park region Friday evening as a developing earthquake swarm unfolded north of Yakutat, producing three significant quakes within just ten minutes.
According to the Alaska Earthquake Center, the swarm began at 8:41 p.m. UTC with a powerful magnitude 7 mainshock centered 88 km north of Yakutat. Five minutes later, a magnitude 5.6 aftershock struck the same corridor, followed at 8:51 p.m. UTC by a magnitude 5.3 earthquake located 87 km NNE of the city. All three events originated at a shallow depth of 5.0 km, heightening surface-level shaking potential.
The epicenters lie deep inside the rugged interior of Wrangell–St. Elias National Park, surrounded by the towering St. Elias Mountains and the glacial systems feeding into Hubbard Glacier and Yakutat Bay. This region sits along the active boundary where the Pacific Plate grinds past the North American Plate, one of the most seismically dynamic zones in North America.
Scientists say swarms like this can continue for hours or days, with aftershocks sometimes approaching the strength of the initial quake. No injuries or damage have been reported, but residents in Yakutat may have felt multiple rounds of shaking.
More earthquakes are possible as the sequence evolves. No tsunami warnings have been issued.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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