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M5.1 Earthquake near Nikolski, United States — 04 September 2025, 19:01 UTC

A moderate earthquake of magnitude 5.1 was recorded near Nikolski, United States on , with an epicentre 99 km south-southwest of Nikolski, at a focal depth of 71.0 km. It ranked as the 8th strongest of 7128 earthquakes recorded in the United States in the preceding 30 days.

5.1 Moderate

Time (UTC): 2025-09-04 19:01:15

Time (your timezone): —

Magnitude: 5.1 (moderate)

Focal depth: 71.0 km (intermediate)

Epicentre: 52.0950, -169.3400

Location: 99 km SSW of Nikolski, 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 07:43 local solar time at the epicentre, around dawn.

This event was deeper than 95% of the 155,351 earthquakes recorded in the United States in our catalogue and stronger than 100% of them.

Where was the epicentre?

The epicentre was located at 52.0950, -169.3400 — 99 km south-southwest of Nikolski. The closest other recorded event was a magnitude 2.9 earthquake 1 km northeast of here on 04 September 2026.

The nearest other settlements in our records are Atka (177 km southwest) and Dutch Harbor (200 km north-northeast).

Why the 71 km depth matters

At 71 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

3 further earthquakes have been recorded within about 150 km of the epicentre in the seven days after this event, the largest of them magnitude 5.4.

139 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or above have been logged within roughly 200 km of this epicentre in our catalogue. The strongest was a magnitude 6.3 event near Nikolski on 03 September 2026. This M5.1 event released about 63 times less energy than that event.

94 earthquakes have been recorded within 100 km of this epicentre in the past year, 18 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 September 2025 worldwide record, and of earthquakes in the United States during September 2025. 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 Nikolski?

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 Nikolski?

The focus was 71 km below the surface, which counts as intermediate.

Was the Nikolski earthquake felt at the surface?

At magnitude 5.1 and a focal depth of 71 km, the depth spreads the energy out, so shaking is weaker overhead but reaches further.

When did the earthquake near Nikolski happen?

04 September 2025 at 19:01 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?

3 further earthquakes have been recorded within about 150 km of the epicentre in the seven days after this event, the largest of them magnitude 5.4.

How often do earthquakes happen near Nikolski?

139 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or above have been logged within roughly 200 km of this epicentre in our catalogue. The strongest was a magnitude 6.3 event near Nikolski on 03 September 2026. This M5.1 event released about 63 times less energy than that event.