A significant 6.0 magnitude earthquake rattled the Anchorage metropolitan area early Thursday morning, making it the largest tremor to strike south-central Alaska since 2021. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported the earthquake occurred at 8:11 a.m. local time, with its epicenter located approximately 7 miles northwest of Susitna, about 67 miles from Anchorage.
Emergency officials have indicated that immediate infrastructural damage appears to be minimal, a scenario consistent with the earthquake’s moderate depth of 43 miles (69 kilometers). Mayor Suzanne LaFrance of Anchorage reported via social media that city inspectors had found no issues with major public utilities or infrastructure. The threat of a tsunami was also quickly dismissed by the United States Tsunami Warning System.
The quake’s occurrence on Thanksgiving Day led to widespread social media commentary, with many residents playfully coining the term ‘Shakesgiving.’ Alaska’s location makes it highly susceptible to earthquakes, experiencing an average of one magnitude 7 earthquake annually. This recent M6.0 quake underscores the region’s seismic dynamism, following a similar magnitude 6.1 event in 2021.