At 12:37 PM Alaska time on July 16, 2025, an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.3 occurred off the Alaska Peninsula, The same area had seen an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.2 two years prior. This region has seen a string of powerful earthquakes with magnitudes of 7 or higher over the last few years.
Overview of the Alaska Earthquake -July 2025
Around 55 miles (89 km) south of Sand Point, Alaska, the earthquake’s epicenter was located. It was felt over a large area stretching from Anchorage to Juneau, where people reported light shaking. The most severe earthquakes occurred in Sand Point, where one person reported objects flying off pantry shelves. In Homer, the shaking was milder—people noticed swaying lights and trees. Fortunately, there are no reports of significant damage from communities near the epicenter. The powerful Simeonof earthquake of magnitude 7.8 in July 2020 created an aftershock zone that was the location of the earthquakes on July 16, 2025, and July 15, 2023. Today’s quake may be part of a long-lasting aftershock sequence from that 2020 event. Since the quake, several aftershocks have been recorded—40 in the first three hours, the largest being magnitude 5.2. More aftershocks are expected. According to the USGS aftershock forecast, there’s a possibility of at least one magnitude 6 or higher earthquake in the next week, and smaller tremors are likely to continue. This region of the Alaska-Aleutian megathrust has seen five magnitude 7+ earthquakes in the past five years, indicating a rise in seismic activity . Approximately one hour after the earthquake, the National Tsunami Warning Center modified its tsunami warning from a warning to an advisory.
Tsunami Warning and Evacuations
Communities at Sand Point, King Cove, Kodiak, Old Harbor, Homer, Seward, and Unalaska evacuated their residents in case of a tsunami even though none was seen. Although no tsunami waves were generated, the warning prompted rapid evacuation responses—a crucial action in case a large wave had occurred. If a tsunami had been triggered, communities near the epicenter would have had only a few minutes to evacuate. The Alaska Earthquake Center works closely with other agencies and local communities to provide information about tsunami risks and evacuation zones. You can learn more about tsunami hazards in your area—whether it’s where you live, work, or play—by visiting the interactive hazard map at: tsunami.alaska.edu. Even though earthquakes are often shown as single points on a map, it’s important to understand that the actual rupture zone can span hundreds of square miles. (As stated in Part 47 of the June 2025 issue of “What’s Shaking Alaska.”)
