The January 28, 1963 earthquake

M6.6near King Cove, Alaska

A magnitude 6.6 earthquake 21.7 miles deep, 30.3 miles off Aleutians East Borough. The 150th strongest in Alaska’s record since 1900, and the strongest within 50 miles since a magnitude 7.1 on May 14, 1948.

The earthquake

Magnitude: 6.6; moment magnitude (mw)
Depth: 21.7 mi; 35.0 km below the surface
Local time: Monday, January 28, 1963; 03:00 AST; 13:00 UTC
Epicentre: 54.58°N, 161.56°W; 30.3 mi from Aleutians East Borough
In Alaska’s record: 150th; strongest of 124,625 since 1900
Within 50 miles: 1; county; more on this date

USGS ANSS Comprehensive Earthquake Catalog, event iscgem17293281 (“72 km SE of King Cove, 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 · 30.3 mi

Earthquakes around the epicentre

1,636 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

May 14, 1948M7.1
July 2, 1922M6.8
April 29, 1937M6.7
July 24, 1917M6.4
November 6, 1941M6.4
May 17, 1948M6.1
February 11, 1940M6.0
July 25, 1917M6.0
November 14, 1938M5.9
May 7, 1937M5.8

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