A series of earthquakes in Alaska’s Aleutian Islands shook the region, with scientists identifying the activity as a “swarm.” The Alaska Earthquake Center reported nine quakes, each above the magnitude 5.0, striking near Adak, Amchitka, and Kiska islands.
Among these tremors, the strongest measured 6.3 and occurred offshore at an 11-mile depth. No injuries or damage were reported immediately on Adak Island, the only inhabited island in the affected area, home to about 300 residents.
The earthquake center clarified that the 6.3 quake posed no significant threat because of its offshore location and limited impact. Seismic activity intensified later in the day, with two aftershocks exceeding magnitude 6.0 occurring within 20 minutes of each.
Alaska Earthquake Centre director Michael West described these unusual aftershocks as part of an enormous swarm. Swarms involve clusters of earthquakes of similar magnitudes, but West assured residents that such events are typical in the Aleutian region.
It included larger quakes than usual but should not alarm Alaska residents. “Swarms of moderately large earthquakes are common in the Aleutians and do not necessarily portend anything more substantial,” stated West. He further emphasized that monitoring remains a priority given the area’s history of large earthquakes.
Alaska experiences small earthquake swarms every few years along the Aleutian chain, with a recent swarm recorder about 350 miles east of Sunday’s activity in May. The center confirmed that these earthquakes in Alaska’s Aleutian Islands are unrelated to recent activity at a volcano near Anchorage.
