M 3.3 Earthquake Strikes Near McCarthy, Alaska

What Happened

A minor earthquake with a magnitude of 3.3 ml occurred on March 20, 2026, at 14:59:04 UTC. The event was centered approximately 48 km southwest of McCarthy, Alaska. The earthquake was recorded by the USGS and has been reviewed by seismologists.

Location Details

The seismic activity was located at coordinates 61.13°N and 143.565°W. The earthquake originated at a depth of 7.1 km. This is classified as a shallow earthquake, as it occurred less than 20 km below the Earth’s surface. Shallow quakes are typically more noticeable to those nearby than deeper events of the same magnitude.

Impact Assessment

According to the USGS data, the event reached a maximum estimated intensity of MMI 3.43. There were no immediate reports of the earthquake being felt by the public at the time of the report, and no tsunami advisory, watch, or warning was issued. No alert level color was assigned to this routine seismic event.

What You Should Know

Earthquakes with magnitudes between 2.5 and 3.9 are categorized as minor. While these events are often felt by residents near the epicenter, they rarely cause any structural damage. Residents in the region should be aware that aftershocks are possible following any seismic event, though they are generally smaller in magnitude than the initial quake.

Source

Data and attribution for this report are provided by the USGS.