M4.3 Earthquake 69 km SSW of Kaktovik, Alaska — September 15, 2026
2026-09-15 09:51:38 UTC (1 hour ago) · approx. 11:51 PM UTC-10 local
On September 15, 2026 at 09:51 UTC, a magnitude 4.3 shallow crustal earthquake struck 69 km SSW of Kaktovik, Alaska, at a depth of 6.6 km and coordinates 69.5420°, -144.2300°.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.3 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 43 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 558 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
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
Earthquake Details
-144.2300°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.3 earthquake near Kaktovik, Alaska?
The magnitude 4.3 earthquake that struck 69 km SSW of Kaktovik, Alaska on September 15, 2026 at 09:51 UTC had a depth of 6.6 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.3 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 4.3 earthquakes are often felt but rarely cause damage.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: aka2026shljaz). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, September 15, 2026). M4.3 Earthquake 69 km SSW of Kaktovik, Alaska — September 15, 2026. Retrieved September 15, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/aka2026shljaz/