The December 11, 1944 earthquake

M6.6near Adak, Alaska

A magnitude 6.6 earthquake 21.7 miles deep, 7.9 miles off Aleutians West Census Area. The 170th strongest in Alaska’s record since 1900, and the strongest within 50 miles since a magnitude 7.0 on July 5, 1929.

The earthquake

Magnitude: 6.6; moment magnitude (mw)
Depth: 21.7 mi; 35.0 km below the surface
Local time: Monday, December 11, 1944; 18:17 NWT; 04:17 UTC on Dec 12, 1944
Epicentre: 51.38°N, 179.22°W; 7.9 mi from Aleutians West Census Area
In Alaska’s record: 170th; strongest of 124,625 since 1900
Within 50 miles: 1; county; more on this date

USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog, event iscgem899659 (“187 km WSW of Adak, 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

Aleutians West Census AreaAK · 7.9 mi

Earthquakes around the epicentre

3,828 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

March 21, 1905M7.2
July 5, 1929M7.0
March 30, 1913M6.9
October 12, 1926M6.7
October 13, 1926M6.7
January 26, 1943M6.5
February 2, 1930M6.5
April 15, 1927M6.5
August 15, 1915M6.4
July 16, 1929M6.3

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