M5.1 Earthquake 88 km NNE of Yakutat, Alaska — December 6, 2025
2025-12-06 20:51:52 UTC (2025-12-06) · approx. 11:51 AM UTC-9 local
Felt by 13 people across nearby locations. Maximum shaking intensity MMI 5.8 (strong).
On December 6, 2025 at 20:51 UTC, a magnitude 5.1 shallow crustal earthquake struck 88 km NNE of Yakutat, Alaska, at a depth of 10.8 km and coordinates 60.3189°, -139.3572°. The earthquake was reported felt by 13 peopleacross nearby locations, with a maximum shaking intensity of Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) 5.8 (strong). The USGS PAGER system issued a green alert level for this event, indicating no significant casualties or damage expected. This earthquake was detected by 86 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 403, placing it among routine seismic activity. The nearest populated place is Haines Junction (population 1,148).
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.1 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 646 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 2.0 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
The epicenter is located in Alaska, a region characterized by Pacific Plate subduction beneath the North American Plate, producing frequent megathrust and crustal earthquakes along the Aleutian arc. The nearest mapped fault system is the Aleutian megathrust. View all earthquakes in Alaska.
Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences
Nearest Populated Places
ShakeMap — predicted shaking intensity
Modeled ground-motion intensity contoured on the Modified Mercalli scale (MMI). Computed by the USGS from the moment-tensor solution and regional ground-motion prediction equations.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey ShakeMap. View interactive ShakeMap on USGS
Did You Feel It? — community-reported shaking
Aggregated felt-report intensity from 13 citizen responses to the USGS Did You Feel It? system. Each colored zone represents the average MMI from reports in that area.
Source: U.S. Geological Survey Did You Feel It?. View on USGS · submit your own report
Population exposure (USGS PAGER)
Estimated population that experienced each level of shaking. Based on the USGS PAGER rapid impact assessment, which combines ShakeMap output with global population grids.
| Shaking intensity (MMI) | Description | Population exposed |
|---|---|---|
| MMI 3 | weak | 1,484 |
Earthquake Details
-139.3572°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.1 earthquake near Yakutat, Alaska?
The magnitude 5.1 earthquake that struck 88 km NNE of Yakutat, Alaska on December 6, 2025 at 20:51 UTC had a depth of 10.8 km. It was felt by 13 people with maximum shaking intensity of MMI 5.8 (strong). For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 60.3189°, -139.3572°, which is 88 km NNE of Yakutat, Alaska. The nearest populated place is Haines Junction (population 1,148). View all earthquakes in Alaska.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.1 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks and gradually diminish over time.
Has Alaska had earthquakes this big before?
The largest recorded earthquake in Alaska was the M9.2 Great Alaska earthquake of March 27, 1964. Today's magnitude 5.1 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
What should I do after an earthquake?
If you were in the affected area: check yourself and others for injuries, inspect your home for damage, and be prepared for aftershocks. For detailed guidance, see our earthquake safety guide and emergency planning resources.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: ak2025xzwrbu). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2025, December 6, 2025). M5.1 Earthquake 88 km NNE of Yakutat, Alaska — December 6, 2025. Retrieved May 24, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/ak2025xzwrbu/