M4.5 Earthquake near Ninilchik, Alaska — 20 December 2024
A light earthquake of magnitude 4.5 was recorded near Ninilchik, Alaska on , with an epicentre 48 km northwest of Ninilchik, at a focal depth of 84.7 km.
Time (UTC): 2024-12-20 04:03:22
Time (your timezone): —
Magnitude: 4.5 (light)
Focal depth: 84.7 km (intermediate)
Epicentre: 60.3570, -152.2940
Location: 48 km NW of Ninilchik, Alaska
USGS link to NOAA tsunami information: Available
Review status: Reviewed
Source: USGS event page
How strong was this earthquake?
Light earthquakes are widely felt near the epicentre and can rattle windows, dishes and hanging objects. Damage is uncommon and usually limited to cracked plaster or fallen loose items.
A magnitude 4.5 earthquake radiates roughly 85 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.
The USGS assigns this earthquake a significance score of 409, which is below the USGS threshold of more than 600 for its significant-earthquake list. The ranking combines magnitude with available Did You Feel It responses and PAGER alert level; it is not a direct measurement of damage.
Where was the epicentre?
The epicentre was located at 60.3570, -152.2940 — 48 km northwest of Ninilchik. The closest other recorded event was a magnitude 2.5 earthquake 17 km south of here on 01 August 2026.
Why the 85 km depth matters
At 85 km this was an intermediate-depth earthquake. Energy from events at this depth spreads out before it reaches the surface, which usually means weaker shaking near the epicentre than a shallow quake of the same magnitude, but shaking felt across a wider area.
This catalogue does not ingest eyewitness responses, so it cannot confirm where this earthquake was felt. Based on magnitude alone, an event this size is often felt across the surrounding area. Its intermediate depth normally reduces peak shaking near the epicentre compared with a shallow event of the same magnitude.
What does the tsunami information flag mean?
The USGS event record links to NOAA tsunami information because this was a large event in an oceanic region. That link flag does not mean a tsunami occurred or that a warning is active. Check tsunami.gov and instructions from your local authority for the current status of your coastline.
How earthquakes generate tsunamis, and what the alert levels mean →
Aftershocks and local seismic history
132 further earthquakes have been recorded within about 150 km of the epicentre in the seven days after this event, the largest of them magnitude 2.8.
37 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or above have been logged within roughly 200 km of this epicentre in our catalogue. The strongest was a magnitude 6.0 event near Susitna on 27 November 2025. This M4.5 event released about 178 times less energy than that event.
How long aftershock sequences last, and how large they get →
Where this event sits in the record
This earthquake is part of the December 2024 worldwide record. Browse the full monthly archive to compare periods.
Nearest recorded earthquakes to this epicentre
- M2.5 earthquake near Ninilchik, Alaska — (17 km S)
- M1.7 earthquake near Ninilchik, Alaska — (19 km SE)
- M-0.0 earthquake near Salamatof, Alaska — (19 km N)
- M-0.5 earthquake near Salamatof, Alaska — (29 km NW)
- M-1.0 earthquake near Ninilchik, Alaska — (31 km WNW)
- M-1.0 earthquake near Ninilchik, Alaska — (31 km NW)
- M-0.6 earthquake near Salamatof, Alaska — (43 km NW)
- M0.5 earthquake near Port Alsworth, Alaska — (50 km WSW)
- M-0.8 earthquake near Pedro Bay, Alaska — (54 km SW)
- M-0.7 earthquake near Pedro Bay, Alaska — (54 km SW)
Other magnitude 4 earthquakes worldwide
- M4.4 earthquake near El Arenal, Mexico —
- M4.3 earthquake near Puerto Madero, Mexico —
- M4.4 earthquake near Fiji region —
- M4.5 earthquake near Abepura, Indonesia —
- M4.6 earthquake near Honmachi, Japan —
- M4.4 earthquake near Ollagüe, Chile —
- M4.4 earthquake near Severo-Kuril’sk, Russia —
- M4.4 earthquake near Volcano Islands, Japan region —
Questions about this earthquake
How strong is a magnitude 4.5 earthquake?
Light earthquakes are widely felt near the epicentre and can rattle windows, dishes and hanging objects. Damage is uncommon and usually limited to cracked plaster or fallen loose items. A magnitude 4.5 earthquake radiates roughly 85 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.
How deep was the earthquake near Ninilchik?
At 85 km this was an intermediate-depth earthquake. Energy from events at this depth spreads out before it reaches the surface, which usually means weaker shaking near the epicentre than a shallow quake of the same magnitude, but shaking felt across a wider area.
Was the M4.5 earthquake near Ninilchik felt?
This catalogue does not ingest eyewitness responses, so it cannot confirm where this earthquake was felt. Based on magnitude alone, an event this size is often felt across the surrounding area. Its intermediate depth normally reduces peak shaking near the epicentre compared with a shallow event of the same magnitude.
What does the USGS tsunami field mean for this event?
The USGS event record links to NOAA tsunami information because this was a large event in an oceanic region. That link flag does not mean a tsunami occurred or that a warning is active. Check tsunami.gov and instructions from your local authority for the current status of your coastline.
Have there been aftershocks?
132 further earthquakes have been recorded within about 150 km of the epicentre in the seven days after this event, the largest of them magnitude 2.8.
How often do earthquakes happen near Ninilchik?
37 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or above have been logged within roughly 200 km of this epicentre in our catalogue. The strongest was a magnitude 6.0 event near Susitna on 27 November 2025. This M4.5 event released about 178 times less energy than that event.