M5.9 Earthquake 280 km ESE of Attu Station, Alaska — January 15, 2026
2026-01-15 08:52:43 UTC (2026-01-15) · approx. 8:52 PM UTC+12 local
Maximum shaking intensity MMI 4.6 (moderate).
On January 15, 2026 at 08:52 UTC, a magnitude 5.9 shallow crustal earthquake struck 280 km ESE of Attu Station, Alaska, at a depth of 19.0 km and coordinates 51.5917°, 176.7527°. The USGS PAGER system issued a green alert level for this event, indicating no significant casualties or damage expected. This earthquake was detected by 437 seismic stations with good location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 536, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 5.9 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 11 kilotons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 7.1 km — a useful intuition for the size of the slip patch on the fault.
The epicenter is located in Alaska, a region characterized by Pacific Plate subduction beneath the North American Plate, producing frequent megathrust and crustal earthquakes along the Aleutian arc. The nearest mapped fault system is the Aleutian megathrust. View all earthquakes in Alaska.
Learn more: Magnitude scale · Aftershock sequences
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
176.7527°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 5.9 earthquake near Attu Station, Alaska?
The magnitude 5.9 earthquake that struck 280 km ESE of Attu Station, Alaska on January 15, 2026 at 08:52 UTC had a depth of 19.0 km. For context, this was a moderate earthquake that could be widely felt.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 51.5917°, 176.7527°, which is 280 km ESE of Attu Station, Alaska. View all earthquakes in Alaska.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 5.9 earthquakes can continue for days to weeks and gradually diminish over time.
Has Alaska had earthquakes this big before?
The largest recorded earthquake in Alaska was the M9.2 Great Alaska earthquake of March 27, 1964. Today's magnitude 5.9 event is significantly smaller than that historical record.
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: us7000rptl). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, January 15, 2026). M5.9 Earthquake 280 km ESE of Attu Station, Alaska — January 15, 2026. Retrieved May 20, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000rptl/