USGS · September 15, 2026
Magnitude 4.3 earthquake — 69 km SSW of Kaktovik, Alaska
A magnitude 4.3 earthquake was recorded near 69 km SSW of Kaktovik, Alaska on Sep 15, 2026, 01:51 AM (local time at the epicentre — AKDT, UTC-8), at a depth of about 6.6 km, according to USGS.
USGSShaking IVTsunami flaggedShallow (0–70 km)Reviewed by a seismologist
Updated 2026-09-15 12:46 UTC
The full record
- Magnitude
- M 4.3 · local (Richter) magnitude
- Location
- 69 km SSW of Kaktovik, Alaska
- Local time at the epicentre
- Sep 15, 2026, 01:51 AM — AKDT, UTC-8
- Time (UTC)
- 2026-09-15 09:51 UTC
- Depth
- 6.6 km · Shallow (0–70 km)
- Coordinates
- 69.542, -144.230
- Felt reports
- No “Did You Feel It?” reports submitted
- Estimated shaking
- IV · Light
- Tsunami
- Flagged for tsunami evaluation by the responsible warning centre.
- Significance
- 284 / 1000 · routine event
- Solution quality
- 91 seismic stations used · 97° azimuthal gap (well-constrained epicentre)
- Review status
- Reviewed by a seismologist
- Catalog
- USGS
Epicentre and nearby recent earthquakes
The highlighted circle is this earthquake. Smaller circles are other events recorded nearby in the last 30 days.
What the shaking was like
Shallow earthquakes release their energy close to the surface, so they are felt more strongly nearby than a deeper earthquake of the same magnitude.
Estimated instrumental shaking IV (Light): Felt indoors by many; dishes and windows rattle and parked cars rock.
Felt it yourself? USGS collects first-hand reports through “Did You Feel It?”, and those reports are what produce the community intensity above.
Who lives nearby
No populated places over 1,000 inhabitants are listed within 100 km of the epicentre.
Earthquake history in this area
12 earthquakes of magnitude 4.5+ have been recorded within 200 km of this epicentre since 1960, in Alaska.
Other earthquakes near this epicentre
4 other events within 100 km in the last 30 days.
Be first to know about the next earthquake near 69 km SSW of Kaktovik, Alaska
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Frequently asked questions
How strong was the 69 km SSW of Kaktovik, Alaska earthquake?
Magnitude 4.3 (local (Richter) magnitude), at a depth of 6.6 km. Shallow earthquakes release their energy close to the surface, so they are felt more strongly nearby than a deeper earthquake of the same magnitude.
Exactly when did it happen?
Sep 15, 2026, 01:51 AM (local time at the epicentre — AKDT, UTC-8). In universal time: 2026-09-15 09:51 UTC.
Was it felt?
No “Did You Feel It?” reports were submitted for this event. Felt indoors by many; dishes and windows rattle and parked cars rock.
Was there a tsunami warning?
Flagged for tsunami evaluation by the responsible warning centre.
Which towns are closest to the epicentre?
No populated places over 1,000 inhabitants lie within 100 km of the epicentre.
Are earthquakes normal in this area?
Yes. The largest earthquake recorded within 200 km since 1960 was magnitude 6.4 (89 km SW of Kaktovik, Alaska, 2018), and 4 further events were recorded within 100 km in the last 30 days.
How do I get alerts for the next earthquake here?
Install the free SeismoWatch Android app, draw a box over this area, set a minimum magnitude, and turn alerts on.
About this page
Event data: U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) and, in Venezuela, FUNVISIS. Populated places and time zones: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Preliminary solutions are revised as more observations arrive.