M4.0 Earthquake 58 km WNW of Sitka, Alaska — January 17, 2026
2026-01-17 21:45:51 UTC (2026-01-17) · approx. 12:45 PM UTC-9 local
Felt by 28 people across nearby locations.
On January 17, 2026 at 21:45 UTC, a magnitude 4.0 shallow crustal earthquake struck 58 km WNW of Sitka, Alaska, at a depth of 2.4 km and coordinates 57.1700°, -136.2720°. The earthquake was reported felt by 28 peopleacross nearby locations, with a maximum shaking intensity of Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) 3.2 (light). The USGS PAGER system issued a green alert level for this event, indicating no significant casualties or damage expected. This earthquake was detected by 91 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 256, placing it among routine seismic activity. The nearest populated place is Craig (population 1,201).
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.0 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 15 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 347 m — 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 28 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 | 5,245 |
Earthquake Details
-136.2720°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.0 earthquake near Sitka, Alaska?
The magnitude 4.0 earthquake that struck 58 km WNW of Sitka, Alaska on January 17, 2026 at 21:45 UTC had a depth of 2.4 km. It was felt by 28 people with maximum shaking intensity of MMI 3.2 (light). For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 57.1700°, -136.2720°, which is 58 km WNW of Sitka, Alaska. The nearest populated place is Craig (population 1,201). View all earthquakes in Alaska.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.0 earthquakes can continue for several days 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 4.0 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: ak2026bfaxka). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, January 17, 2026). M4.0 Earthquake 58 km WNW of Sitka, Alaska — January 17, 2026. Retrieved May 12, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/ak2026bfaxka/