The January 5, 1961 earthquake

M6.5near Adak, Alaska

A magnitude 6.5 earthquake 19.8 miles deep, 1.7 miles off Aleutians West Census Area. The 177th strongest in Alaska’s record since 1900, and the strongest within 50 miles since a magnitude 6.8 on June 12, 1957.

The earthquake

Magnitude: 6.5; moment magnitude (mw)
Depth: 19.8 mi; 31.9 km below the surface
Local time: Thursday, January 5, 1961; 03:06 NST; 14:06 UTC
Epicentre: 51.78°N, 175.98°W; 1.7 mi from Aleutians West Census Area
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 iscgem875902 (“46 km ESE 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 · 1.7 mi

Earthquakes around the epicentre

2,924 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 9, 1957M8.6
February 13, 1905M7.6
October 13, 1926M6.9
June 12, 1957M6.8
March 19, 1957M6.8
December 10, 1905M6.7
July 16, 1914M6.5
September 24, 1933M6.4
May 19, 1929M6.4
August 8, 1926M6.3

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