The October 29, 1946 earthquake

M6.5near Akutan, Alaska

A magnitude 6.5 earthquake 18.6 miles deep, 26.7 miles off Aleutians East Borough. The 177th strongest in Alaska’s record since 1900, and the strongest within 50 miles in the catalogue, which runs from 1900.

The earthquake

Magnitude: 6.5; moment magnitude (mw)
Depth: 18.6 mi; 30.0 km below the surface
Local time: Tuesday, October 29, 1946; 21:47 AST; 07:47 UTC on Oct 30, 1946
Epicentre: 53.71°N, 164.71°W; 26.7 mi from Aleutians East Borough
In Alaska’s record: 177th; strongest of 124,625 since 1900
Within 50 miles: 1; county; more on this date

USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog, event iscgem898642 (“83 km SE of Akutan, 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 East BoroughAK · 26.7 mi

Earthquakes around the epicentre

1,653 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

April 2, 1922M6.5
August 19, 1939M6.2
October 14, 1933M6.2
September 8, 1942M6.2
June 28, 1933M6.0
June 28, 1933M5.8
July 17, 1937M5.5

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