In brief
On Thursday, a 5.0‑magnitude earthquake struck the North Pacific Ocean 143 km south of False Pass, Alaska at 2014 GMT. The U.S. Geological Survey recorded the epicenter at 53.58° N, 163.03° W, at a depth of 15.6 km. The quake caused no casualties and only weak shaking was felt in the nearby town of False Pass.
At 2014 GMT on Thursday, a 5.0‑magnitude earthquake struck 143 km south of False Pass, Alaska, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The event’s epicenter was located at 53.58° N latitude and 163.03° W longitude, with a depth measured at 15.6 km beneath the seafloor.
No casualties or structural damage were reported in the region following the strike.
Local accounts indicate that the nearest relatively large community, the town of False Pass, experienced only weak shaking and no significant impact.
The earthquake’s magnitude, measured on the moment‑magnitude scale, places it in the moderate range, comparable to other minor tremors that occur around the northern Pacific Rim on a regular basis.
The U.S. Geological Survey confirmed the seismic event and listed it as part of its routine monitoring of the subduction zone that lies under the North Pacific Ocean, where the Pacific Plate slides beneath the North American Plate.
Researchers note that the depth and location of the quake are typical for seismicity in this region, which is known for episodic seismic swarms, especially along the Aleutian Trench.
While the immediate effects were minimal, the incident underscores the importance of continuous seismic monitoring in Alaska’s remote coastal areas, where communities may be vulnerable to future tremors.
