The November 16, 1938 earthquake

M6.9near Perryville, Alaska

A magnitude 6.9 earthquake 21.7 miles deep, 47.9 miles off Lake and Peninsula Borough. The 72nd strongest in Alaska’s record since 1900, and the strongest within 50 miles since a magnitude 8.2 on November 10, 1938.

The earthquake

Magnitude: 6.9; moment magnitude (mw)
Depth: 21.7 mi; 35.0 km below the surface
Local time: Wednesday, November 16, 1938; 17:54 AST; 03:54 UTC on Nov 17, 1938
Epicentre: 55.41°N, 157.73°W; 47.9 mi from Lake and Peninsula Borough
In Alaska’s record: 72nd; strongest of 124,625 since 1900
Within 50 miles: 1; county; more on this date

USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog, event iscgem902802 (“105 km ESE of Perryville, Alaska”). The USGS event page carries the ShakeMap, felt reports and the official summary.

Counties and cities within 50 miles

Distance from the epicentre to each county boundary (zero when inside) and to each city centre.

Counties

Lake and Peninsula BoroughAK · 47.9 mi

Earthquakes around the epicentre

494 earthquakes of magnitude 3 or more within 50 miles of this epicentre since 1973.

Earlier earthquakes of magnitude 5 or more within 50 miles, strongest first

November 10, 1938M8.2
May 4, 1923M7.0
July 28, 1934M6.6
November 10, 1938M6.6
August 5, 1927M6.2
July 28, 1927M6.2
November 2, 1930M5.8

USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog. Local time is the time zone of the county nearest the epicentre. Magnitudes are as the catalogue reports them.