M3.9 Earthquake 31 km NW of Valdez, Alaska — April 30, 2026
2026-04-30 16:03:15 UTC (2 hours ago) · approx. 6:03 AM UTC-10 local
Felt by 33 people across nearby locations. Maximum shaking intensity MMI 4.0 (moderate).
On April 30, 2026 at 16:03 UTC, a magnitude 3.9 shallow crustal earthquake struck 31 km NW of Valdez, Alaska, at a depth of 14.7 km and coordinates 61.3630°, -146.6820°. The earthquake was reported felt by 33 peopleacross nearby locations, with a maximum shaking intensity of Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) 4.0 (moderate). This earthquake was detected by 177 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 244, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 3.9 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 11 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 296 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
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 33 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
Earthquake Details
-146.6820°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 3.9 earthquake near Valdez, Alaska?
The magnitude 3.9 earthquake that struck 31 km NW of Valdez, Alaska on April 30, 2026 at 16:03 UTC had a depth of 14.7 km. It was felt by 33 people with maximum shaking intensity of MMI 4.0 (moderate). For context, this was a minor earthquake typically detected only by instruments.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 61.3630°, -146.6820°, which is 31 km NW of Valdez, Alaska. View all earthquakes in Alaska.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 3.9 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 3.9 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: aka2026inasvo). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, April 30, 2026). M3.9 Earthquake 31 km NW of Valdez, Alaska — April 30, 2026. Retrieved April 30, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/aka2026inasvo/