3.8

M3.8 Earthquake 72 km ENE of Akutan, AlaskaMay 16, 2026

2026-05-16 13:06:33 UTC (12 hours ago) · approx. 2:06 AM UTC-11 local

MagnitudeM3.8(ml)
Time13:06 UTC2:06 AM UTC-11
Depth86.2 kmintermediate depth
Coordinates54.276°, -164.685°
Felt byNo felt reports
Status✓ Reviewed by USGS

On May 16, 2026 at 13:06 UTC, a magnitude 3.8 intermediate depth earthquake struck 72 km ENE of Akutan, Alaska, at a depth of 86.2 km and coordinates 54.2765°, -164.6852°.

Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 3.8 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 7.6 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 252 m — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.

Map showing earthquake epicenter at 54.28°, -164.69°

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 M3.8 earthquake near 72 km ENE of Akutan, Alaska

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

Earthquake Details

Magnitude
3.8 ml
Depth
86.2 km
intermediate depth
Location
54.2765°N
-164.6852°E
Intensity (MMI)
2.1
weak

Technical Information

Event ID
us6000sy7m
Event Type
earthquake
Status
✓ Reviewed
Significance
222
Stations Used
32
Azimuthal Gap
170.0°
Min Station Distance
0.218°
RMS Residual
0.64 sec
Last Updated
2026-05-17 00:22:28 UTC

Common Questions

How strong was the magnitude 3.8 earthquake near Akutan, Alaska?

The magnitude 3.8 earthquake that struck 72 km ENE of Akutan, Alaska on May 16, 2026 at 13:06 UTC had a depth of 86.2 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 3.8 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: us6000sy7m). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.

Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, May 16, 2026). M3.8 Earthquake 72 km ENE of Akutan, AlaskaMay 16, 2026. Retrieved May 17, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us6000sy7m/