M7.2 Earthquake near Sand Point, Alaska — 16 July 2025
A major earthquake of magnitude 7.2 was recorded near Sand Point, Alaska on , with an epicentre 87 km south of Sand Point, at a focal depth of 36.0 km.
Time (UTC): 2025-07-16 20:37:40
Time (your timezone): —
Magnitude: 7.2 (major)
Focal depth: 36.0 km (shallow)
Epicentre: 54.5530, -160.3440
Location: 87 km S of Sand Point, Alaska
USGS link to NOAA tsunami information: Available
Review status: Reviewed
Source: USGS event page
How strong was this earthquake?
Major earthquakes cause serious damage across wide regions and are capable of destroying buildings that were not designed for seismic loading. Events at this size frequently trigger long aftershock sequences lasting months.
A magnitude 7.2 earthquake radiates roughly 951,499 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.
The USGS assigns this earthquake a significance score of 798, which meets 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 54.5530, -160.3440 — 87 km south of Sand Point. The closest other recorded event was a magnitude 2.5 earthquake 12 km south-southwest of here on 28 July 2026.
Why the 36 km depth matters
At 36 km this was a shallow earthquake. Shallow events release their energy close to the surface, so for a given magnitude they produce noticeably stronger shaking — and more damage — than deeper ones. Roughly three quarters of all earthquakes worldwide occur at shallow depths.
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 shallow focus makes stronger surface shaking more likely than for a deeper 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
104 further earthquakes have been recorded within about 150 km of the epicentre in the seven days after this event, the largest of them magnitude 6.2.
82 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or above have been logged within roughly 200 km of this epicentre in our catalogue. The strongest was a magnitude 7.3 event near Sand Point on 16 July 2025. This M7.2 event released about 1.4 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 July 2025 worldwide record. Browse the full monthly archive to compare periods.
Nearest recorded earthquakes to this epicentre
- M2.5 earthquake near Sand Point, Alaska — (12 km SSW)
- M2.6 earthquake near Sand Point, Alaska — (13 km ENE)
- M2.2 earthquake near Sand Point, Alaska — (19 km E)
- M2.6 earthquake near Sand Point, Alaska — (25 km NE)
- M2.7 earthquake near Sand Point, Alaska — (29 km SE)
- M2.1 earthquake near Sand Point, Alaska — (31 km E)
- M2.2 earthquake near Sand Point, Alaska — (34 km ESE)
- M2.2 earthquake near Sand Point, Alaska — (35 km E)
- M2.2 earthquake near King Cove, Alaska — (74 km WSW)
- M3.2 earthquake near King Cove, Alaska — (80 km W)
Other magnitude 7 earthquakes worldwide
- M7.1 earthquake near Uki, Japan —
- M7.1 earthquake near Uki, Japan —
- M7.4 earthquake near Puerto Madero, Mexico —
- M7.3 earthquake near Puerto Madero, Mexico —
- M6.9 earthquake near Kuji, Japan —
- M7.5 earthquake near Yumare, Venezuela —
- M7.2 earthquake near San Felipe, Venezuela —
- M6.9 earthquake near Calama, Chile —
Questions about this earthquake
How strong is a magnitude 7.2 earthquake?
Major earthquakes cause serious damage across wide regions and are capable of destroying buildings that were not designed for seismic loading. Events at this size frequently trigger long aftershock sequences lasting months. A magnitude 7.2 earthquake radiates roughly 951,499 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.
How deep was the earthquake near Sand Point?
At 36 km this was a shallow earthquake. Shallow events release their energy close to the surface, so for a given magnitude they produce noticeably stronger shaking — and more damage — than deeper ones. Roughly three quarters of all earthquakes worldwide occur at shallow depths.
Was the M7.2 earthquake near Sand Point 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 can produce strong, widely felt shaking. Its shallow focus makes stronger surface shaking more likely than for a deeper 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?
104 further earthquakes have been recorded within about 150 km of the epicentre in the seven days after this event, the largest of them magnitude 6.2.
How often do earthquakes happen near Sand Point?
82 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or above have been logged within roughly 200 km of this epicentre in our catalogue. The strongest was a magnitude 7.3 event near Sand Point on 16 July 2025. This M7.2 event released about 1.4 times less energy than that event.