Earthquake.now

M5.6 Earthquake near Unalaska, United States — 26 January 2025, 22:39 UTC

A moderate earthquake of magnitude 5.6 was recorded near Unalaska, United States on , with an epicentre 80 km southwest of Unalaska, at a focal depth of 75.7 km. It was the strongest of the 6211 earthquakes recorded in the United States in the preceding 30 days.

5.6 Moderate

Time (UTC): 2025-01-26 22:39:14

Time (your timezone): —

Magnitude: 5.6 (moderate)

Focal depth: 75.7 km (intermediate)

Epicentre: 53.3884, -167.4350

Location: 80 km SW of Unalaska, 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 5.6 earthquake radiates roughly 3,788 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.

The USGS assigns this earthquake a significance score of 498, 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 11:29 local solar time at the epicentre, during the morning.

This event was deeper than 96% of the 156,288 earthquakes recorded in the United States in our catalogue and stronger than 100% of them.

Where was the epicentre?

The epicentre was located at 53.3884, -167.4350 — 80 km southwest of Unalaska. The closest other recorded event was a magnitude 2.4 earthquake 27 km east of here on 15 September 2026.

The nearest other settlements in our records are Dutch Harbor (31 km east-northeast) and Akutan (131 km east).

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

43 further earthquakes have been recorded within about 150 km of the epicentre in the seven days after this event, the largest of them magnitude 4.4.

96 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 M5.6 event released about 11 times less energy than that event.

101 earthquakes have been recorded within 100 km of this epicentre in the past year, 17 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 2025 worldwide record, and of earthquakes in the United States during January 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 Unalaska?

It measured magnitude 5.6 — a moderate earthquake. A magnitude 5.6 earthquake radiates roughly 3,788 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.

How deep was the earthquake near Unalaska?

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

Was the Unalaska earthquake felt at the surface?

At magnitude 5.6 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 Unalaska happen?

26 January 2025 at 22:39 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?

43 further earthquakes have been recorded within about 150 km of the epicentre in the seven days after this event, the largest of them magnitude 4.4.

How often do earthquakes happen near Unalaska?

96 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 M5.6 event released about 11 times less energy than that event.