February 28, 1979 Earthquake: Alaska, United States
A magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck Alaska, United States on February 28, 1979 at 21:27:08 UTC, 18 km below the surface. It caused a tsunami.
Map
Where it struck, with the other significant earthquakes within 200 km. Circles are sized and colored by magnitude; select one for its page.
The earthquake
- Date
- February 28, 1979
- Time
- 21:27:08 UTC
- Place
- Alaska, United States
- Magnitude
- 7.5 (Mw)
- Focal depth
- 18 km (11 mi)
- Intensity
- 7 on the Modified Mercalli scale
- Tsunami
- Yes: the tsunami it caused
- Epicenter
- 60.691° N, 141.671° W
- Country
- United States
The toll
- Damage
- Limited (under about $1 million)
Where the literature gives no number, NCEI records a description on a scale of 1 to 4, printed here in its words. Damage is in millions of US dollars of the year of the event, not adjusted for inflation.
What the record says
NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.
1979, February 28, 21:27:07.2 UTC. 60.642 N, 141.598 W, depth 13 km, magnitude 7 MS, intensity VII. This major earthquake was located about 50 km northwest of
Mt. St. Elias, near the east end of the Chugach
Mountains. It affected the area only slightly because
it centered in an unpopulated area of ice fields.
Seven major earthquakes have been located in the region between Controller Bay and northern Chichagof
Island in southeast Alaska from 1899 to 1979,
three of which were of magnitude 8 or larger. This
earthquake was strongest at the Icy Bay Lumber
Camp, about 76 km south of the epicenter, where a
parked logging truck was bounced sideways across
the road, trees and bushes were shaken strongly, and
people had difficulty in standing. Minor damage
occurred in Alaska at Border City, Cape Yakataga,
Juneau area, Valdez, and Yakutat; minor damage
occurred in Yukon Territory, Canada, at Beaver
Creek, Burwash Landing, Destruction Bay, and Kluane
Lake Fishing Camp. (reference #542)
1979, February 28 21:27:8.06 UTC. 60.691 N, 141.671 W, depth 18 km, magnitude 7.5 Mw HRV. (reference #9910)
1979, February 28 21:27:07.76 UTC. 60.545 N, 141.721 W, depth 15 km, magnitude 7.46 Mw. (reference #10476)
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
More
Significant earthquakes of 1979The 1900sEvery quake the USGS located in 1979Recent earthquakes near hereThis day in weather history
Sources
Significant earthquakes from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Hazard Database, cited as NCEI/WDS, doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7. Public domain. Read 2026-09-24. NCEI earthquake 6457.