Strong earthquake · May 9, 2026

M 6.1 Earthquake, Rat Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska

A magnitude 6.1 (ml) earthquake struck Rat Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska on May 9, 2026 at 04:42 UTC, at a depth of about 16 km (10 mi), according to the USGS.

Updated Oct 24, 2026, 12:52 AM EDT (USGS snapshot)

M 6.1 ml No PAGER alert Reviewed by a seismologist

This is not an early-warning system. For tsunami warnings see tsunami.gov; for emergencies follow local authorities.

Event details
Magnitude	6.1 ml (Strong)
Time (UTC)	May 9, 2026, 04:42:21 UTC
Local time at epicenter	May 8, 2026, 8:42 PM AKDT
U.S. Eastern Time	May 9, 2026, 12:42 AM EDT
Location	Rat Islands, Aleutian Islands, Alaska
Coordinates	50.981° N, 179.214° E
Depth	16.3 km (10.1 mi), shallow
Felt reports	None reported
ShakeMap intensity	MMI 4.8 (estimated maximum)
Tsunami flag	No
PAGER alert	None issued
USGS event ID	aka2026jcufoy

Source: USGS Earthquake Hazards Program, event aka2026jcufoy. Last updated by the USGS Oct 24, 2026, 04:52:27 UTC.

USGS event page View on OpenStreetMap Alaska earthquakes

What the numbers mean

Tsunami flag: The USGS sets this flag for large events in oceanic regions. It does not mean a tsunami happened or will happen. Official tsunami warnings come from the NOAA Tsunami Warning Centers at tsunami.gov.
PAGER alert: An automatic USGS estimate of likely fatalities and economic losses: green (little or none), yellow, orange, or red (highest). It can change as more data arrives.
Felt reports: People who felt shaking can describe it through the USGS "Did You Feel It?" survey on the event page. The count grows for hours or days after an event.

Other recent earthquakes within 300 km

Nearby events from the past 30 days (M 4.5+), past 7 days (M 2.5+), and past year (M 6+)
Magnitude	Location	Time	Depth
M 4.6	153 km WNW of Adak, Alaska	Oct 25, 2026, 1:49 PM EDT 0 sec ago	152.9 km
M 2.7	77 km SSW of Adak, Alaska	Oct 23, 2026, 9:11 AM EDT 16 hr ago	25.9 km
M 3.3	237 km SE of Attu Station, Alaska	Oct 21, 2026, 9:57 AM EDT 3 days ago	5.0 km
M 6.4(tsunami flag)	223 km ESE of Attu Station, Alaska PAGER green	Mar 4, 2026, 12:54 PM EST 233 days ago	10.0 km

After an earthquake

Expect aftershocks. If you are near the coast and feel strong or long shaking, move to high ground right away without waiting for an official warning. Check on neighbors and follow instructions from local emergency officials.

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