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M6.2 Earthquake near Nikolski, United States — 03 September 2026

A strong earthquake of magnitude 6.2 was recorded near Nikolski, United States on , with an epicentre 105 km south-southwest of Nikolski, at a focal depth of 78.0 km. It was the strongest of the 7763 earthquakes recorded in the United States in the preceding 30 days.

6.2 Strong

Time (UTC): 2026-09-03 11:17:23

Time (your timezone): —

Magnitude: 6.2 (strong)

Focal depth: 78.0 km (intermediate)

Epicentre: 52.0150, -169.2210

Location: 105 km SSW of Nikolski, Alaska

Country: United States

USGS link to NOAA tsunami information: Available

Review status: Automatic

Source: USGS event page

How strong was this earthquake?

Strong earthquakes can cause significant damage in populated areas within roughly 100 km of the epicentre, particularly to older masonry buildings. Landslides and liquefaction become a real risk in susceptible ground.

A magnitude 6.2 earthquake radiates roughly 30,089 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.

The USGS assigns this earthquake a significance score of 592, 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 00:00 local solar time at the epicentre, in the early hours of the morning.

This event was deeper than 96% of the 153,081 earthquakes recorded in the United States in our catalogue and stronger than 100% of them.

Where was the epicentre?

The epicentre was located at 52.0150, -169.2210 — 105 km south-southwest of Nikolski. The closest other recorded event was a magnitude 2.9 earthquake 2 km west of here on 02 September 2026.

The nearest other settlements in our records are Nikolski (176 km south-southwest) and Dutch Harbor (204 km north-northeast).

Why the 78 km depth matters

At 78 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 produce strong, widely felt shaking. 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

1 further earthquakes have been recorded within about 150 km of the epicentre since this event was recorded, the largest of them magnitude 6.3.

113 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 M6.2 event released about 1.4 times less energy than that event.

861 earthquakes have been recorded within 100 km of this epicentre in the past year, 126 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 2026 worldwide record, and of earthquakes in the United States during September 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 6 earthquakes worldwide

All magnitude 6 earthquakes →

Questions about this earthquake

How strong was the earthquake near Nikolski?

It measured magnitude 6.2 — a strong earthquake. A magnitude 6.2 earthquake radiates roughly 30,089 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.

How deep was the earthquake near Nikolski?

The focus was 78 km below the surface, which counts as intermediate.

Was the Nikolski earthquake felt at the surface?

At magnitude 6.2 and a focal depth of 78 km, the depth spreads the energy out, so shaking is weaker overhead but reaches further.

When did the earthquake near Nikolski happen?

03 September 2026 at 11:17 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?

1 further earthquakes have been recorded within about 150 km of the epicentre since this event was recorded, the largest of them magnitude 6.3.

How often do earthquakes happen near Nikolski?

113 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 M6.2 event released about 1.4 times less energy than that event.