M4.6 Earthquake near Rat Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska — May 27, 2026
2026-05-27 05:57:11 UTC (2 hours ago) · approx. 5:57 PM UTC+12 local
Aftershock of the M5.8 mainshock.
On May 27, 2026 at 05:57 UTC, a magnitude 4.6 shallow crustal earthquake struck near Rat Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska, at a depth of 14.3 km and coordinates 50.8905°, 178.7464°. This earthquake was detected by 84 seismic stations with moderate location accuracy and was assigned a USGS significance rating of 326, placing it among routine seismic activity.
Physical scale: An earthquake of magnitude 4.6 releases seismic energy equivalent to roughly 120 metric tons of TNT. Empirical fault-scaling laws (Wells & Coppersmith, 1994) estimate the subsurface rupture length at approximately 899 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 5.8 mainshock that occurred 18 days ago 292 km WSW of Adak, Alaska. Since the mainshock, the USGS has recorded 10 aftershocks in this area. Aftershock activity is expected to continue for days to weeks as stresses on surrounding faults redistribute.
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
178.7464°E
Technical Information
Nearby Earthquakes (Last 7 Days)
Common Questions
How strong was the magnitude 4.6 earthquake near Rat Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska?
The magnitude 4.6 earthquake that struck near Rat Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska on May 27, 2026 at 05:57 UTC had a depth of 14.3 km. For context, this was a light earthquake commonly felt near the epicenter.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The earthquake epicenter was located at 50.8905°, 178.7464°, which is near Rat Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska. View all earthquakes in Alaska.
Were there aftershocks?
Aftershock activity is monitored continuously by the USGS. Aftershock sequences from magnitude 4.6 earthquakes can continue for several days and gradually diminish over time.
Is this the same earthquake as the M5.8 one earlier?
No. This magnitude 4.6 earthquake is an aftershock of the larger magnitude 5.8 mainshock that occurred earlier 292 km WSW of Adak, Alaska. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes triggered by stress changes from the mainshock.
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 4.6 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: us7000sntj). All scientific values on this page are sourced verbatim from the USGS feed.
Cite this page: EarthquakeTracker.org. (2026, May 27, 2026). M4.6 Earthquake near Rat Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska — May 27, 2026. Retrieved May 27, 2026 from https://www.earthquaketracker.org/earthquakes/event/us7000sntj/