3.9

M3.9 Earthquake south of AlaskaOctober 20, 2025

2025-10-20 23:52:59 UTC (2025-10-20) · approx. 1:52 PM UTC-10 local

MagnitudeM3.9(mb)
Time23:52 UTC1:52 PM UTC-10
Depth10.0 kmshallow crustal
Coordinates53.588°, -156.297°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On October 20, 2025 at 23:52 UTC, a magnitude 3.9 shallow crustal earthquake struck south of Alaska, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 53.5880°, -156.2966°.

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.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 53.59°, -156.30°

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.

USGS ShakeMap intensity contours for the M3.9 earthquake near south of Alaska

Source: U.S. Geological Survey ShakeMap. View interactive ShakeMap on USGS

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
3.9 mb
Depth
10.0 km
shallow crustal
Location
53.5880°N
-156.2966°E
Intensity (MMI)
0.0
weak

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000rid8
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
234
Stations Used
42
Azimuthal Gap
188.0°
Min Station Distance
2.272°
RMS Residual
0.65 sec
Last Updated
2026-01-09 15:38:42 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 3.9 earthquake south of Alaska?

The magnitude 3.9 earthquake that struck south of Alaska on October 20, 2025 at 23:52 UTC had a depth of 10.0 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 3.9 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.

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: us6000rid8). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2025, October 20, 2025). M3.9 Earthquake south of AlaskaOctober 20, 2025. Retrieved May 26, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000rid8/