# M5.6 Earthquake: 43 km NNW of Lake Minchumina, Alaska Updated 09:05 UTC, 29 Oct 2026. Canonical: https://monitorworld.app/earthquake/2026-10-15-m5-6-lake-minchumina-alaska A **magnitude 5.6** earthquake struck 43 km NNW of Lake Minchumina, Alaska at 11:07 UTC on 15 Oct 2026, at a depth of 5 km, reported by USGS. USGS did not set a tsunami flag for this quake. So far 1 aftershock of M2.5+ has been recorded within 50 km, the largest a M3.0. ## Key numbers - Magnitude (USGS): **M5.6** (ml) - Depth: **5 km** (shallow) - USGS PAGER impact alert: **NONE** (no alert issued) - Aftershocks M2.5+ so far: **1** (within 50 km) ## Nearest places - [43 KM] Lake Minchumina, Alaska, United States (43 km from the epicentre, quake was NNW of here, population 13) - [248 KM] College, Alaska, United States (248 km from the epicentre, quake was WSW of here, population 12,964) - [251 KM] Fairbanks, Alaska, United States (251 km from the epicentre, quake was WSW of here, population 32,325) - [259 KM] Badger, Alaska, United States (259 km from the epicentre, quake was WSW of here, population 19,482) - [989 KM] Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada (989 km from the epicentre, quake was WNW of here, population 28,201) - [364 KM] Anchorage, AK (364 km from the epicentre, quake was NNW of here, population 290,000) ## Strongest aftershocks so far - [LOW] [M3.0 ยท 41 km NNW of Lake Minchumina, Alaska](https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/aka2026ulcmta) (2026-10-15 13:05 UTC, 10 km deep, USGS) ## Key context ### Tectonic setting **Alaska crust and slab.** Mainland Alaska has two kinds of quakes: crustal faults such as the Denali Fault (M7.9 in 2002), and quakes inside the subducting Pacific slab at 40-150 km depth, like the M7.1 Anchorage quake of 2018. Alaska has more large quakes than the rest of the United States combined. The USGS moment tensor shows strike-slip faulting: the two sides of the fault slid sideways past each other. At 5 km it was a very shallow quake: shallow quakes shake the ground above them hardest, so local damage depends on how close towns are. ### Shaking and impact The USGS ShakeMap estimates the strongest shaking at intensity VII on the Modified Mercalli scale (very strong). 107 people sent a "Did You Feel It?" report to USGS, with the strongest reported intensity V (moderate). ### Aftershocks This page counts quakes of M2.5 or more within 50 km after the main shock, from the USGS catalog (last checked 09:05 UTC, 29 Oct 2026): 1 aftershock so far. Aftershocks are normal after a quake of this size. They usually become less frequent over days and weeks, but a strong aftershock can still happen, and in a few sequences a later quake is larger. No one can predict their exact time or size; follow the official agency for your area. ### Earthquake history within 250 km Since 1976, USGS lists 54 quakes of M5 or more within 250 km of this epicentre, about 1.1 a year. Since 1900 the same circle had 29 quakes of M5.6 or larger. Largest earlier quakes within 250 km, USGS catalog since 1900 (M6+). | Magnitude | Place (USGS) | Date | Depth | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | M7.3 | Central Alaska | 1904-08-27 | 0 km | | M7.2 | Mount McKinley (Denali) area, Alaska | 1912-07-07 | 3 km | | M7.1 | Central Alaska | 1947-10-16 | 26 km | | M6.8 | 12 km N of Huslia, Alaska | 1958-04-07 | 15 km | | M6.8 | Alaska Range, about 220 km NW of Anchorage | 1932-03-25 | 15 km | | M6.6 | 53 km ENE of Cantwell, Alaska | 2002-10-23 | 4 km | | M6.5 | 15 km S of Rampart, Alaska | 1968-10-29 | 10 km | | M6.4 | 23 km ENE of Ferry, Alaska | 1947-10-20 | 20 km | ### Official information - [Alaska Earthquake Center](https://earthquake.alaska.edu/) - [National Tsunami Warning Center](https://www.tsunami.gov/) - [EMSC (European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre)](https://www.emsc-csem.org/) - [USGS event page for this quake](https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/aka2026ukynnb) (ShakeMap, PAGER, felt reports) - [tsunami.gov](https://www.tsunami.gov/) for US tsunami bulletins ### Data status USGS review status: reviewed. Magnitude type: ml. USGS last updated this event on 28 Oct 2026 at 11:17 UTC. Magnitude, depth and location can still be revised; this page keeps the same address if they change. ## FAQ ### How strong was the earthquake near Lake Minchumina, Alaska? USGS measured it at magnitude 5.6 (ml), 5 km deep. The strongest estimated shaking was intensity VII (very strong). Quakes of M5 to 5.9 are classed as moderate. ### Was there a tsunami? USGS did not set a tsunami flag for this quake. If you are on a coast and feel strong or long shaking, move to high ground anyway, and follow local officials. ### Was the earthquake felt? Yes. 107 people reported it to USGS "Did You Feel It?", with reports up to intensity V. ### Will there be more aftershocks? Aftershocks are likely to continue for days to weeks, becoming less frequent over time. So far 1 aftershock of M2.5+ has been listed. Most sequences do not produce a larger quake, but some do. No one can predict the time or size of the next one; follow Alaska Earthquake Center. ### What should I do after a strong earthquake? Expect aftershocks: Drop, Cover and Hold On when shaking starts again. Check for injuries and damage, stay out of damaged buildings, and use text messages instead of calls so emergency lines stay free. On a coast, move to high ground after strong shaking. Follow your local officials. ## Get the app MonitorWorld is free on iPhone and Android, rated 4.7 from 52 ratings on the US App Store. - App Store: https://apps.apple.com/app/id6760610225 - Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=app.monitorworld ## Sources - [USGS event page](https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/aka2026ukynnb): magnitude, location, ShakeMap, PAGER and Did You Feel It? data for this event. Public domain. Credit: U.S. Geological Survey. - [USGS ComCat (FDSN event web service)](https://earthquake.usgs.gov/fdsnws/event/1/): the USGS earthquake catalog, used for the 30-year counts, history and aftershocks. Public domain. Credit: U.S. Geological Survey. - [USGS Geoserve](https://earthquake.usgs.gov/ws/geoserve/): nearest places to the epicentre. - [GeoNames](https://www.geonames.org/): large-city coordinates, CC BY 4.0. ## Related - [Alaska earthquakes](https://monitorworld.app/live/earthquakes/alaska): Live map and the 30-year normal in Alaska. - [M5.5 Aleneva, Alaska](https://monitorworld.app/earthquake/2026-10-06-m5-5-aleneva-alaska): 6 Oct 2026, 604 km from this quake. - [M5.7 Vilyuchinsk, Russia](https://monitorworld.app/earthquake/2026-10-02-m5-7-vilyuchinsk-russia): 2 Oct 2026, 3,029 km from this quake. - [Earthquakes today](https://monitorworld.app/live/earthquakes-today): Every M2.5+ quake of the past 24 hours. - [Earthquakes by region](https://monitorworld.app/live/earthquakes): All regions and every M5.5+ quake page. - [Tsunami warning today](https://monitorworld.app/live/tsunami-warning): Latest US tsunami bulletins. - [Earthquake near me](https://monitorworld.app/live/earthquake-near-me): Sort recent quakes by distance from you.