M3.4 earthquake — 21 km NE of Sterling, Alaska
An magnitude 3.4 earthquake occurred 21 km NE of Sterling, Alaska on Aug 23, 2026 at 05:06 UTC. The epicenter was at a depth of 48 km — a shallow earthquake. Shallow quakes concentrate their energy near the surface, so they tend to produce stronger shaking close to the epicenter.
Event data
| Magnitude | M3.4 |
|---|---|
| Depth | 48.5 km |
| Coordinates | 60.691, -150.520 |
| Time | Aug 23, 05:06 UTC |
| Location | 21 km NE of Sterling, Alaska |
| USGS event ID | aka2026qqpiix |
What this magnitude typically means
Minor earthquakes are often felt close to the epicenter but almost never cause damage. Whether you feel one at all depends on how near and how shallow it is. Tremor does not compute a single local shaking figure here, because how strong a quake feels at any address depends on distance, depth and local geology — open the interactive globe to explore the ShakeMap and estimated intensity.
Nearby recent earthquakes
| Magnitude | Distance | Time (UTC) | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| M2.6 | 6 km | Aug 26, 04:37 UTC | 19 km NE of Sterling, Alaska |
| M2.5 | 19 km | Aug 27, 17:05 UTC | 2 km N of Sterling, Alaska |
| M2.5 | 64 km | Aug 26, 17:02 UTC | 19 km SW of Point MacKenzie, Alaska |
| M2.7 | 66 km | Aug 23, 12:04 UTC | 44 km NE of Fox River, Alaska |
| M2.6 | 72 km | Aug 29, 03:40 UTC | 24 km SSW of Susitna, Alaska |
| M3.4 | 75 km | Aug 27, 10:05 UTC | 30 km NE of Fox River, Alaska |
Earthquake activity in this area
Source: USGS earthquake catalog. Automated readings may be revised. Not for emergency use.