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M7.2 Earthquake near Sand Point, United States — 16 July 2025, 20:37 UTC

A major earthquake of magnitude 7.2 was recorded near Sand Point, United States on , with an epicentre 87 km south of Sand Point, at a focal depth of 36.0 km. It ranked as the 2nd strongest of 8146 earthquakes recorded in the United States in the preceding 30 days.

7.2 Major

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

Country: United States

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.

What the magnitude scale actually measures →

When it happened locally

That is about 09:56 local solar time at the epicentre, during the morning.

This event was deeper than 91% of the 155,587 earthquakes recorded in the United States in our catalogue and stronger than 100% of them.

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 2.6 earthquake 2 km south-southeast of here on 19 August 2026.

The nearest other settlements in our records are Ivanof Bay (104 km northeast), Cold Bay (156 km northwest), Chignik (157 km northeast) and Alaska Peninsula National Wildlife Refuge (164 km north-northeast).

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.

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

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.

88 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.

27 earthquakes have been recorded within 100 km of this epicentre in the past year, 3 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 July 2025 worldwide record, and of earthquakes in the United States during July 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 7 earthquakes worldwide

All magnitude 7 earthquakes →

Questions about this earthquake

How strong was the earthquake near Sand Point?

It measured magnitude 7.2 — a major earthquake. A magnitude 7.2 earthquake radiates roughly 951,499 tons of TNT equivalent in seismic energy.

How deep was the earthquake near Sand Point?

The focus was 36 km below the surface, which counts as shallow.

Was the Sand Point earthquake felt at the surface?

At magnitude 7.2 and a focal depth of 36 km, shaking would have been concentrated near the epicentre.

When did the earthquake near Sand Point happen?

16 July 2025 at 20:37 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?

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?

88 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.