CORDOVA, Alaska, June 29 — A magnitude 5.3 earthquake struck 35 kilometers south-southwest of Cordova, Alaska early Monday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The quake occurred at 03:32 UTC at a depth of 13.3 kilometers. No tsunami warning was issued.
The USGS detected the event through its real-time global seismic monitoring network. At least 78 people reported feeling the earthquake, the agency said.
The shallow depth of 13.3 kilometers placed this event in a category that typically produces stronger shaking at the surface than deeper earthquakes of the same magnitude, according to seismologists. Shallow events less than 70 kilometers deep generate more intense ground motion. Earthquakes in the magnitude 5 range are classified as moderate.
They can cause minor to moderate damage near the epicenter. The area south of Cordova sits in a seismically active region of Alaska.
The record shows that at least 22 earthquakes of magnitude 5.0 or greater have been recorded within approximately 300 kilometers over the past two decades. The strongest among them was a magnitude 7.1 earthquake in 2018. Seismologists note that aftershocks are common following an earthquake of this size.
Aftershocks may continue for days or weeks, and people in the affected area are generally advised to be prepared for further shaking, according to standard guidance from the USGS. On the timeline, the 03:32 UTC event struck in the early morning hours local time. The USGS data provides no immediate reports of casualties or structural damage.
The agency continues to monitor the region for any subsequent seismic activity. The shallow depth and moderate magnitude mean that the shaking was likely felt most strongly in communities nearest to the epicenter, 35 kilometers from Cordova.
The 2018 magnitude 7.1 event in the broader region serves as a reminder of the tectonic forces at work along the Gulf of Alaska. Sources familiar with seismic patterns in the area note that the frequency of magnitude 5-plus events over the past two decades underscores the persistent activity along this subduction zone. Residents in coastal communities from Cordova southward should expect the possibility of additional tremors in the days ahead.
The USGS will update its earthquake catalog as more data becomes available from its monitoring network.
