Seismologists Report Moderate Earthquake in Alaska
Date: May 5, 2025 | Time: 16:17:33 AKDT (00:17:33 UTC, May 6) |
Location: 64.6183°N 149.155°W | Depth: 6.1 miles (9 km)
A reported earthquake struck approximately 20 miles north of Clear, Alaska, generating responses from several nearby communities including Fairbanks, Fort Wainwright, North Pole, and Salcha. The seismic event was assessed by a seismologist, confirming its impact felt across the region.
This earthquake highlights the tectonic complexities of Interior Alaska, characterized by transpression and block rotation. Seismic activity in this area results from various tectonic structures, including right-lateral strike-slip faults (Denali, Tintina, Kaltag) and north-northeast-trending seismic zones (Minto, Fairbanks, Salcha). Historical seismic events in this region include the 1937 M7.3 Salcha Earthquake, the 1968 M7.1 Rampart, and others ranging from M6.0 to M7.2, which underline the area’s ongoing tectonic movements.
The Fairbanks Seismic Zone has registered several significant earthquakes, further emphasizing the nature of seismic hazards in this territory. The 1947 M7.2 event near the northern foothills of the Alaska Range and current activity suggest a continued thrusting deformation trend. It’s noteworthy that east of longitude 146 degrees west, seismic activity diminishes markedly, indicating a complex interplay of geological forces in the region.
Source
Photo credit earthquake.alaska.edu
