Recent earthquakes near Anchorage
Anchorage sits above the Alaska-Aleutian subduction zone, where the Pacific Plate dives beneath North America, making south-central Alaska one of the most seismically active regions in the United States. The 1964 Great Alaska earthquake (M9.2), centred nearby, is the largest ever recorded in North America. A 2018 earthquake (M7.1) struck directly beneath the city. In the past 24 hours, Anchorage has recorded 4 earthquakes, the largest an M5.0 (52 km E of Denali National Park, Alaska).
Counts include M2.5+ events — the smallest size USGS reports consistently worldwide.
Recent earthquakes
| Magnitude | Time (UTC) | Depth | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| M2.6 | Jul 29, 03:01 UTC | 5 km | 52 km ENE of Denali National Park, Alaska |
| M3.5 | Jul 28, 20:52 UTC | 1 km | 54 km E of Denali National Park, Alaska |
| M5.0 | Jul 28, 20:49 UTC | 5 km | 52 km E of Denali National Park, Alaska |
| M2.6 | Jul 28, 19:24 UTC | 24 km | 13 km N of Meadow Lakes, Alaska |
| M2.5 | Jul 27, 19:21 UTC | 65 km | 7 km NW of Anchor Point, Alaska |
| M2.9 | Jul 27, 11:30 UTC | 60 km | 67 km SSW of Nanwalek, Alaska |
| M2.5 | Jul 27, 09:37 UTC | 130 km | 60 km ENE of Pedro Bay, Alaska |
| M3.2 | Jul 27, 06:43 UTC | 86 km | 25 km NW of Petersville, Alaska |
| M3.0 | Jul 27, 06:06 UTC | 15 km | 23 km ESE of Susitna North, Alaska |
| M2.5 | Jul 27, 00:28 UTC | 18 km | 58 km NNW of Chickaloon, Alaska |
| M2.5 | Jul 26, 08:09 UTC | 63 km | 24 km SW of Susitna, Alaska |
| M2.8 | Jul 25, 17:14 UTC | 16 km | 16 km E of Willow, Alaska |
| M2.5 | Jul 25, 15:05 UTC | 78 km | 7 km SW of Happy Valley, Alaska |
| M2.9 | Jul 24, 09:22 UTC | 88 km | 22 km W of Happy Valley, Alaska |
| M2.5 | Jul 23, 22:39 UTC | 77 km | 30 km WSW of Anchor Point, Alaska |
| M2.5 | Jul 23, 13:30 UTC | 1 km | 7 km NW of Susitna North, Alaska |
| M2.6 | Jul 23, 13:03 UTC | 129 km | 61 km ENE of Pedro Bay, Alaska |
| M2.5 | Jul 22, 11:08 UTC | 121 km | 65 km WNW of Happy Valley, Alaska |
| M2.8 | Jul 22, 06:14 UTC | 108 km | 35 km SW of Skwentna, Alaska |
Notable recent activity
A moderate M5.0 earthquake struck 52 km E of Denali National Park, Alaska at 20:49 UTC on Jul 28 at a depth of 5 km.
An M3.5 earthquake struck 54 km E of Denali National Park, Alaska at 20:52 UTC on Jul 28 at a depth of 1 km.
An M3.2 earthquake struck 25 km NW of Petersville, Alaska at 06:43 UTC on Jul 27 at a depth of 86 km.
Frequently asked questions
Why does Anchorage get earthquakes?
Anchorage sits above the Alaska-Aleutian subduction zone, where the Pacific Plate subducts beneath North America. This produces frequent earthquakes, including deep intraslab events beneath the city and great megathrust ruptures offshore.
What was the 1964 Alaska earthquake?
The March 27, 1964 Great Alaska earthquake, magnitude 9.2, is the largest recorded in North American history and the second-largest ever measured. Centred east of Anchorage, it caused ground failure, a major tsunami, and reshaped the region's coastline.
Did the 2018 earthquake damage Anchorage?
The November 30, 2018 earthquake, magnitude 7.1, struck about 40 km deep beneath Anchorage. It damaged roads and buildings and disrupted the city, but strong building codes and its depth kept casualties low.
Nearby regions
Live data from the USGS earthquake feeds. Magnitudes and depths are automated readings and may be revised. Not for emergency use.