3.3

M3.3 Earthquake 4 km SSW of Salcha, AlaskaMay 4, 2026

2026-05-04 05:54:59 UTC (1 hour ago) · approx. 7:54 PM UTC-10 local

Felt by 21 people across nearby locations.

MagnitudeM3.3(ml)
Time05:54 UTC7:54 PM UTC-10
Depth0.3 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates64.491°, -146.938°
Felt by21DYFI responses
StatusAutomatic (preliminary)

On May 4, 2026 at 05:54 UTC, a magnitude 3.3 shallow crustal earthquake struck 4 km SSW of Salcha, Alaska, at a depth of 0.3 km and coordinates 64.4910°, -146.9380°. This earthquake was detected by 69 seismic stations with excellent location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 173, placing it among routine seismic activity.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 3.3 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 1.3 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 114 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

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 64.49°, -146.94°

Did You Feel It? — community-reported shaking

Aggregated felt-report intensity from 21 citizen responses to the USGS Did You Feel It? system. Each colored zone represents the average MMI from reports in that area.

USGS DYFI community-reported intensity map for the M3.3 earthquake near 4 km SSW of Salcha, Alaska

Source: U.S. Geological Survey Did You Feel It?. View on USGS · submit your own report

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
3.3 ml
Depth
0.3 km
shallow crustal
Location
64.4910°N
-146.9380°E
Felt Reports
21
DYFI responses
Community Intensity
2.8
CDI from reports

Technical Information

Event ID
aka2026itqnsh
Event Type
earthquake
Status
Automatic
Significance
173
Stations Used
69
Azimuthal Gap
29.0°
Min Station Distance
0.100°
RMS Residual
0.90 sec
Last Updated
2026-05-04 06:45:11 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 3.3 earthquake near Salcha, Alaska?

The magnitude 3.3 earthquake that struck 4 km SSW of Salcha, Alaska on May 4, 2026 at 05:54 UTC had a depth of 0.3 km. For context, this was a minor earthquake typically detected only by instruments.

Where did the earthquake occur?

The earthquake epicenter was located at 64.4910°, -146.9380°, which is 4 km SSW of Salcha, Alaska. View all earthquakes in Alaska.

Were there aftershocks?

Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 3.3 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 3.3 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: aka2026itqnsh). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, May 4, 2026). M3.3 Earthquake 4 km SSW of Salcha, AlaskaMay 4, 2026. Retrieved May 4, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/aka2026itqnsh/