3.5

M3.5 Earthquake 151 km SW of Adak, AlaskaSeptember 12, 2026

2026-09-12 03:43:22 UTC (12 hours ago) · approx. 3:43 PM UTC-12 local

MagnitudeM3.5(ml)
Time03:43 UTC3:43 PM UTC-12
Depth19.4 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates51.132°, -178.460°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On September 12, 2026 at 03:43 UTC, a magnitude 3.5 shallow crustal earthquake struck 151 km SW of Adak, Alaska, at a depth of 19.4 km and coordinates 51.1320°, -178.4600°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 3.5 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 2.7 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 157 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

This earthquake is part of an ongoing aftershock sequence following the magnitude 5.3 mainshock that occurred 1 day ago 151 km WSW of Adak, Alaska. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 16 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 51.13°, -178.46°

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
3.5 ml
Depth
19.4 km
shallow crustal
Location
51.1320°N
-178.4600°E

Technical Information

Event ID
aka2026sblaat
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
188
Stations Used
34
Azimuthal Gap
214.0°
Min Station Distance
0.500°
RMS Residual
0.90 sec
Last Updated
2026-09-12 15:55:02 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 3.5 earthquake near Adak, Alaska?

The magnitude 3.5 earthquake that struck 151 km SW of Adak, Alaska on September 12, 2026 at 03:43 UTC had a depth of 19.4 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 3.5 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

Is this the same earthquake as the M5.3 one earlier?

No. This magnitude 3.5 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.3 mainshock that occurred earlier 151 km WSW of Adak, Alaska. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.

Understanding This Data

Magnitude 3.5 earthquakes are typically only recorded by instruments.

Learn more about magnitude →

Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: aka2026sblaat). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, September 12, 2026). M3.5 Earthquake 151 km SW of Adak, AlaskaSeptember 12, 2026. Retrieved September 12, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/aka2026sblaat/