Earthquake.now

M5.1 Earthquake near Adak, United States — 24 January 2026, 21:25 UTC

A moderate earthquake of magnitude 5.1 was recorded near Adak, United States on , with an epicentre 51 km southeast of Adak, at a focal depth of 76.0 km. It ranked as the 8th strongest of 7364 earthquakes recorded in the United States in the preceding 30 days.

5.1 Moderate

Time (UTC): 2026-01-24 21:25:38

Time (your timezone): —

Magnitude: 5.1 (moderate)

Focal depth: 76.0 km (intermediate)

Epicentre: 51.5900, -176.0440

Location: 51 km SE of Adak, Alaska

Country: United States

USGS link to NOAA tsunami information: Available

Review status: Reviewed

Source: USGS event page

How strong was this earthquake?

Moderate earthquakes can damage poorly built or unreinforced structures near the epicentre, while well-engineered buildings typically escape serious harm. Shaking is often strong enough to wake sleeping residents over a wide area.

A magnitude 5.1 earthquake radiates roughly 674 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.

The USGS assigns this earthquake a significance score of 400, 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.

What the magnitude scale actually measures →

When it happened locally

That is about 09:41 local solar time at the epicentre, during the morning.

This event was deeper than 96% of the 155,533 earthquakes recorded in the United States in our catalogue and stronger than 100% of them.

Where was the epicentre?

The epicentre was located at 51.5900, -176.0440 — 51 km southeast of Adak. The closest other recorded event was a magnitude 3.7 earthquake 21 km south-southwest of here on 25 August 2026.

Why the 76 km depth matters

At 76 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 can be felt widely and may cause minor local damage. Its intermediate depth normally reduces peak shaking near the epicentre compared with a shallow event of the same magnitude.

Read more on how focal depth changes what you feel →

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

17 further earthquakes have been recorded within about 150 km of the epicentre in the seven days after this event, the largest of them magnitude 5.3.

97 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or above have been logged within roughly 200 km of this epicentre in our catalogue. The strongest was a magnitude 6.2 event near Adak on 21 March 2025. This M5.1 event released about 45 times less energy than that event.

363 earthquakes have been recorded within 100 km of this epicentre in the past year, 29 of them in the past 30 days.

How long aftershock sequences last, and how large they get →

Where this event sits in the record

This earthquake is part of the January 2026 worldwide record, and of earthquakes in the United States during January 2026. Browse the full monthly archive to compare periods.

Nearest recorded earthquakes to this epicentre

Other recent earthquakes in the United States

All recorded earthquakes in the United States →

Other magnitude 5 earthquakes worldwide

All magnitude 5 earthquakes →

Questions about this earthquake

How strong was the earthquake near Adak?

It measured magnitude 5.1 — a moderate earthquake. A magnitude 5.1 earthquake radiates roughly 674 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.

How deep was the earthquake near Adak?

The focus was 76 km below the surface, which counts as intermediate.

Was the Adak earthquake felt at the surface?

At magnitude 5.1 and a focal depth of 76 km, the depth spreads the energy out, so shaking is weaker overhead but reaches further.

When did the earthquake near Adak happen?

24 January 2026 at 21:25 UTC.

Was there a tsunami?

The USGS record carries a link to NOAA tsunami information for this event. That is not a warning: check your regional tsunami warning centre for any live alert.

Have there been aftershocks?

17 further earthquakes have been recorded within about 150 km of the epicentre in the seven days after this event, the largest of them magnitude 5.3.

How often do earthquakes happen near Adak?

97 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or above have been logged within roughly 200 km of this epicentre in our catalogue. The strongest was a magnitude 6.2 event near Adak on 21 March 2025. This M5.1 event released about 45 times less energy than that event.