M3.5 Earthquake 112 km SSE of Sand Point, Alaska — March 18, 2026
2026-03-18 19:34:59 UTC (2026-03-18) · approx. 8:34 AM UTC-11 local
On March 18, 2026 at 19:34 UTC, a magnitude 3.5 shallow crustal earthquake struck 112 km SSE of Sand Point, Alaska, at a depth of 10.0 km and coordinates 54.3714°, -159.9914°.
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 5.0 mainshock that occurred 5 days ago 81 km S of Sand Point, Alaska. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 13 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
Earthquake Details
-159.9914°E
Technical Information
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Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 3.5 earthquake near Sand Point, Alaska?
The magnitude 3.5 earthquake that struck 112 km SSE of Sand Point, Alaska on March 18, 2026 at 19:34 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 3.5 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.0 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 3.5 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.0 mainshock that occurred earlier 81 km S of Sand Point, Alaska. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
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Understanding This Data
Magnitude 3.5 earthquakes are typically only recorded by instruments.
Authoritative source: USGS event page (event ID: us6000sheb). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, March 18, 2026). M3.5 Earthquake 112 km SSE of Sand Point, Alaska — March 18, 2026. Retrieved August 3, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000sheb/