Magnitude 4.0 Light Earthquake Strikes Near Ivanof Bay, 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 4.0 earthquake occurred 64 km northwest of Ivanof Bay, Alaska, on February 18, 2026. The deep seismic event was recorded at a depth of 197.8 kilometers.
What this USGS earthquake report tells you, and what most readers miss
This notice was issued by USGS on April 6, 2026 and geographically references Alaska. Its severity classification of "medium" 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
A light earthquake with a magnitude of 4.0 ml occurred on February 18, 2026, at 03:36 UTC. The seismic event was recorded at a depth of 197.8 km. In local time, the earthquake occurred on February 17, 2026, at 6:36 PM AKST.
Location Details
The earthquake's epicenter was located at coordinates 56.366°N, 160.104°W, approximately 64 km northwest of Ivanof Bay, Alaska. At 197.8 km, this is classified as a deep earthquake. Deep earthquakes (those occurring at depths greater than 70 km) are typically felt over a wider area but are significantly less likely to cause surface damage compared to shallow events.
Impact Assessment
According to the USGS, there are currently no felt reports associated with this event. The Modified Mercalli Intensity (MMI) is rated at 1, indicating no perceived shaking. No tsunami advisory, watch, or warning has been issued in connection with this earthquake. There is no alert level color assigned to this event in the source data.
What You Should Know
Earthquakes with a magnitude between 4.0 and 4.9 are classified as "light." While they can cause noticeable shaking and light damage is possible in some circumstances, the significant depth of this specific event (nearly 200 km) typically mitigates the impact at the surface. Residents should remain aware of the possibility of aftershocks, which are routine following seismic activity.
Source
Data and event details provided by the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program.
Original source: USGS Official Notice ↗
Related Earthquakes
All Earthquakes →Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this USGS earthquake report.