M3.0 Earthquake 45 km SSW of Cantwell, Alaska — December 18, 2023
2023-12-18 20:16:13 UTC (2023-12-18) · approx. 10:16 AM UTC-10 local
On December 18, 2023 at 20:16 UTC, a magnitude 3.0 intermediate depth earthquake struck 45 km SSW of Cantwell, Alaska, at a depth of 84.8 km and coordinates 63.0333°, -149.3748°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 3.0 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 477 kg of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 71 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Earthquake Details
-149.3748°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 3.0 earthquake near Cantwell, Alaska?
The magnitude 3.0 earthquake that struck 45 km SSW of Cantwell, Alaska on December 18, 2023 at 20:16 UTC had a depth of 84.8 km. For context, this was a minor earthquake typically detected only by instruments.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 3.0 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 3.0 earthquakes are typically only recorded by instruments.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: ak023g6h6afq). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2023, December 18, 2023). M3.0 Earthquake 45 km SSW of Cantwell, Alaska — December 18, 2023. Retrieved February 27, 2024 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/ak023g6h6afq/