M 3.9 Earthquake Strikes 31 km NW of Valdez, Alaska
Areazine synthesizes this USGS earthquake report directly from USGS's official public data feed. See our methodology for full source attribution and refresh cadence.
A magnitude 3.9 earthquake occurred 31 km northwest of Valdez, Alaska, at a depth of 14.7 km, and was felt by 26 people.
What this USGS earthquake report tells you, and what most readers miss
This notice was issued by USGS on April 30, 2026 and geographically references Alaska. Its severity classification of "low" signals how the issuing agency weighs the risk of harm if no action is taken - "critical" and "high" tier alerts typically carry direct consumer actions, while "medium" and "low" tend toward informational guidance or monitoring advisories. The category it belongs to - Earthquakes - determines the monitoring protocol behind it, which shapes what follow-up action (checking for structural damage, watching for aftershocks, reviewing local building codes) is relevant and which agency holds authority over the assessment.
Most readers skim a notice like this, check whether they are personally affected, and move on. The more useful lens is to verify its scope, source, and timestamp, then compare related notices without assuming that one record proves a broader trend.
Areazine pairs this record with the original agency URL so you can check the primary source before acting. Its related labels are earthquake, seismic, usgs, Alaska.
What Happened
An earthquake with a magnitude of 3.9 ml occurred 31 km NW of Valdez, Alaska, at a depth of 14.7 kilometers. It happened on June 15, 2026, at 04:09 UTC.
Location Details
The epicenter is located at coordinates 61.363 latitude and -146.682 longitude, approximately 31 km northwest of Valdez in Alaska. The depth of 14.7 km classifies this as a shallow earthquake, which typically results in stronger shaking near the surface.
Impact Assessment
The earthquake was felt by 26 people, as reported. There is no tsunami advisory, and no alert level was issued.
What You Should Know
This minor earthquake, with a magnitude of 3.9, is often felt but rarely causes damage. Be prepared for possible aftershocks and follow basic safety tips, such as staying indoors and away from windows if shaking occurs.
Source
Information from the United States Geological Survey (USGS): https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/aka2026inasvo
Original source: USGS Official Notice ↗
Related Earthquakes
All Earthquakes →Nationwide notices with similar length or severity timing 8
Two Areazine-derived peer sets for this USGS earthquake report: nearest notices by body length and by same severity near the same agency date. Peers come from other categories so they are not the same-feed Related list above.
Similar body length
Nearest notices by article body length (1,027 characters here).
Similar severity timing
Same severity (low) notices issued closest in time to April 30, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this USGS earthquake report.