Nearly 500 Earthquakes Strike Alaska Over Past Week

By Anna Skinner

Senior Reporter

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Nearly 500 earthquakes have struck Alaska over the past week, the Alaska Earthquake Center reported, with one of the most recent quakes rattling the Anchorage area on Thanksgiving.

"Alaska typically experiences a high level of seismic activity, and while almost 500 earthquakes in a week may sound like a lot, it isn’t unusual for the state," Ezgi Karasözen, a research seismologist with the Alaska Earthquake Center, told Newsweek. "In fact, overall we’ve actually been seeing lower seismicity this year compared to many previous years, so last week’s numbers aren’t particularly notable in the broader context."

Why It Matters

The Alaska Earthquake Center shared the data on Wednesday in a post on X. Less than 24 hours later, a strong earthquake struck near Susitna, Alaska, on Thursday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The magnitude 6.0 quake hit about 9 miles west of Susitna and roughly 30 miles from Anchorage.

There were no immediate reports of major damage or injuries, though residents reported widespread shaking as authorities continued to assess the impact.

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What to Know

Of the hundreds of quakes that hit Alaska over the past week, five were reportedly felt, the post said.

"The largest was a magnitude 5.8 west of Adak on November 22," the Alaska Earthquake Center said in the X post, which was made before the magnitude 6.0 quake struck on Thursday. "Sunday, November 30 marks the anniversary of two notable Alaska earthquakes: a magnitude 7.9 Gulf of Alaska earthquake in 1987, and the magnitude 7.1 Anchorage earthquake in 2018. They remind us that southern Alaska constantly produces earthquakes.

"Where the two landmasses of the Pacific and North American plates move inexorably towards each other, huge amounts of strain build over days, years, and decades," the post added. "The strain ultimately exceeds the point at which the crust’s rocks can contain it, causing rupture and releasing pent-up energy as a major earthquake. In coastal Alaska, such large earthquakes can also cause tsunamis."

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For the magnitude 6.0 quake that struck on Thursday, even though no severe damage has been reported so far, the size and density of Anchorage’s population mean authorities are treating the event with caution, closely monitoring aftershocks and possible impacts across the region.

No tsunami was expected after that quake.

What People Are Saying

Karasözen told Newsweek: "As for the stronger events ... none of them are especially concerning. Earthquakes in the western Aleutian Islands are common, and because the region is sparsely populated, they rarely result in significant impacts. At this time, we’re not aware of any reported damage from the recent events."

Alaska Earthquake Center in the post on X: "Alaska has experienced 60 earthquakes above magnitude 7 in the past century, and 56 of those were along our southern margin. Thankfully, the majority are away from large population centers. While we still can’t predict earthquakes, their inevitability in Alaska helps us better prepare, both mentally and logistically."

What Happens Next

Since Alaska is one of the most seismically active places in the world, more earthquakes are likely to strike, although they can be tough to predict. People in the region should remain alert and educated on how to respond to protect their lives and property should an earthquake strike.

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