A small earthquake measuring magnitude 1.6 was recorded early Tuesday near Tatitlek in Southcentral Alaska, according to the Alaska Earthquake Center. The quake occurred shortly after midnight and was not expected to cause damage.
The earthquake struck at 12:22 a.m. Alaska Daylight Time on March 10, about 29 miles northwest of Tatitlek. It occurred at a depth of approximately 5.6 miles (9 kilometers) below the surface.
Seismic data shows the tremor was located in the Prince William Sound region, roughly 33 miles west of Valdez and about 86 miles east of Anchorage. The Alaska Earthquake Center reported the event as a magnitude-1.6 local earthquake, a level typically too small to be felt by most residents.
At the time of reporting, the event had not yet been reviewed by a seismologist, meaning the data may be updated as analysts examine the recordings more closely.
Officials at the Alaska Earthquake Center noted that minor seismic activity like this is common in the region and generally poses little risk to communities.
Southcentral Alaska sits along a complex tectonic boundary where the Pacific Plate is slowly subducting beneath the North American Plate. This interaction produces frequent earthquakes across the region.
The same tectonic system generated some of Alaska’s most powerful historic earthquakes, including the 1964 Great Alaska Earthquake, which reached magnitude 9.2 and remains the second-largest earthquake ever recorded worldwide.
More recently, large events such as the 2018 magnitude-7.1 Anchorage earthquake caused widespread structural damage and temporarily disrupted roads and infrastructure across the city.
While large earthquakes are rare, small earthquakes occur regularly throughout Alaska, making the state one of the most seismically active regions in the United States. Most are too weak to be felt and are detected only by monitoring equipment.
Scientists track these events to understand regional fault systems better and improve earthquake preparedness across communities in Southcentral Alaska.
Researchers at the Alaska Earthquake Center will continue analyzing the event as part of ongoing seismic monitoring across the state. Updated information may be released if the magnitude, location, or depth changes after review.
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