Magnitude 2.6 - 53 miles SE of Amchitka
May 21, 2023 00:19:21 AKDT (May 21, 2023 08:19:21 UTC)
51.2082°N 179.8805°W Depth 10.7 miles (17 km)
This event has been reviewed by a seismologist
- 56 miles (90 km) SE of Semisopochnoi Island
- 62 miles (100 km) SW of Mt. Gareloi
- 88 miles (142 km) SW of Tanaga Volcano
- 91 miles (147 km) SE of Little Sitkin Pass
- 93 miles (150 km) SE of Davidof Island
- 102 miles (165 km) SE of Segula Peak
- 115 miles (186 km) SW of Bobrof Island
- 125 miles (202 km) SE of Kiska Volcano
- 127 miles (205 km) W of Kanaga Volcano
- 144 miles (233 km) W of Mt. Moffett
- 146 miles (236 km) W of Adak
- Magnitude type: Ml2
- Event type: earthquake
Tectonic Setting of the Aleutian Islands
The Aleutian Arc marks the region where the Pacific Plate subducts into the mantle beneath the North American Plate. It is a seismically active region, evidenced by the thousands of earthquakes occurring each year. Since 1900, this region has hosted several major megathrust earthquakes, including the 1957 M8.6 in the Andreanof Islands, the 1965 M8.7 in the Rat Islands, the 1986 M7.9 and the 1996 M7.9 in the Andreanof Islands, and the 2003 M7.8 in the Rat Islands. Together they have ruptured the entire length of the megathrust boundary in this region. Another notable source of seismicity in the arc is the zone 6-9 miles (10-15 km) wide of intermediate-depth earthquakes within the subducting Pacific Plate, known as the Wadati-Benioff Zone. The largest recorded intermediate-depth earthquake in this region was the 2014 M7.9 Little Sitkin event. A third source of seismicity in this region are shallow earthquakes associated with volcanic processes and crustal faults within the overriding North American Plate. They occur regularly and may produce vigorous aftershock or swarm-like sequences.