Kobuk, Alaska – A light magnitude 3.0 earthquake shook the remote Northwest Arctic on Thursday morning, briefly rattling communities scattered along the upper Kobuk River. The tremor struck about 53 kilometers north-northeast of Kobuk at a shallow depth of 5 kilometers, a depth that can make even small quakes more noticeable in nearby villages.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the quake hit at 11:32 AM UTC Thursday and was automatically recorded with no initial reports of damage or shaking submitted by residents. The region experiences occasional minor seismic activity tied to broader tectonic movement across Alaska’s interior.
While the epicenter sits far from major road networks, residents in Kobuk, Shungnak, and nearby camps may have felt a brief jolt. Local emergency managers note that even small quakes can unsettle loose ground or trigger minor slumping along riverbanks, especially during early winter freeze-up.
People in the Northwest Arctic are encouraged to review basic earthquake safety steps, including securing heavy items and knowing safe indoor shelter locations should stronger shaking occur.
USGS will continue to monitor the area for aftershocks or additional seismic activity, though none have been detected so far.
