M5.0 earthquake 87 km SSW of Atka, Alaska

A magnitude 5.0 earthquake struck 87 km SSW of Atka, Alaska on Wed, May 7, 1986, 2:12 PM HADT (23:12 UTC), 33 km (21 mi) below the surface.

A larger quake followed: M6.5 25 km NW of Atka, Alaska. This one was a foreshock.

Map

Where this earthquake was located, with the others nearby. Select one for its page.

The USGS’s account of the effects of this earthquake.

Held to the main shock location to the nearest tenth of a degree.

From the USGS event page for usp0002tn2. U.S. Geological Survey text and figures are in the public domain.

No one has reported feeling this quake to the USGS.

Reviewed by a seismologist.

Within 100 km, magnitude 2.0 and up: at least 199 in the 60 days after this one and 15 in the 30 days before it.

The first 60 of at least 199.

From the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program and its partner networks, event usp0002tn2. Read Thu, Oct 1, 2026, 3:09 AM UTC.