Earthquake · Alaska
M6.5 earthquake near Nikolski, Alaska
A magnitude 6.5 earthquake struck 170 km W of Nikolski, Alaska on 17 September 2026 at 14:19 UTC, at a depth of 98 km.
- Magnitude
- 6.5 mww
- When
- 17 September 2026, 14:19 UTC
- Depth
- 98 km
- Location
- 52.88° N, 171.40° W
- Strongest shaking (estimated)
- Intensity V (moderate)
- Felt reports
- 8 people told USGS they felt it
- USGS PAGER alert
- Green
- Tsunami
- The USGS flagged it for possible tsunami. Check the official warning centres
- Source
- USGS event page
What it means
A magnitude 6.5 is a strong earthquake; there are about 130 a year worldwide, and they can cause damage in populated areas near the epicentre. At 98 km deep it was an intermediate-depth earthquake: felt over a wide area, but less strongly than a shallow one of the same size.
The magnitude may be revised as more data comes in. Read Earthquake magnitude explained for what the numbers mean.
Aftershocks
3 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or more within 150 km in the 30 days after; the largest was a magnitude 4.5.
| Mag | Where | When (UTC) |
|---|---|---|
| 4.5 | 101 km WSW of Nikolski, Alaska | 20 September 2026, 13:55 |
| 4.1 | 171 km W of Nikolski, Alaska | 17 September 2026, 14:39 |
| 4.0 | 85 km SSW of Nikolski, Alaska | 19 September 2026, 12:44 |
Near the coast, strong or long shaking can be followed by a tsunami: see Tsunami warning signs.
Not an official warning service. In an emergency, follow your local authorities.