Kaktovik, Alaska — A magnitude 3.5 earthquake was recorded Sunday about 64 kilometers south of Kaktovik, prompting routine monitoring by Alaska seismic networks.
According to the Alaska Earthquake Center, the quake occurred at 12:14:53 UTC Sunday at a depth of approximately 19.0 kilometers beneath the surface. The epicenter was located offshore in the Beaufort Sea region along Alaska’s Arctic coast, south of the small North Slope community.
Seismologists classified the event as a minor earthquake, a magnitude range that is common in tectonically active regions of Alaska. Small earthquakes of this size are typically not strong enough to cause structural damage and are often only detected by seismic instruments.
As of Sunday afternoon, no “Did You Feel It?” reports had been submitted by residents, according to the monitoring system linked to the event. Kaktovik is a remote Arctic village with a population of fewer than 300 people, which can limit the number of felt reports following smaller seismic events.
The Alaska Earthquake Center, which tracks seismic activity across the state, noted that the event was automatically reviewed through its monitoring system. Alaska experiences thousands of earthquakes each year, though most are too small to be noticed by the public.
Earthquakes in northern Alaska are less frequent than those along the Aleutian subduction zone and southern Alaska, but smaller seismic events still occur as the Earth’s crust adjusts along regional fault systems.
For residents, workers, and travelers across the North Slope—including students and seasonal employees commuting between villages—officials encourage awareness of earthquake preparedness even for minor events.
Authorities continue routine monitoring, and no alerts or emergency responses were issued following the quake.
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