M7.2

M 7.2 - 207 km WSW of Adak, Alaska

Major Earthquake · December 19, 2007 · 207 km WSW of Adak, Alaska

Key Insights

•At M7.2, this is the #17 strongest earthquake in our database of 470 US events, placing it in the top 5%.
•At M7.2, this is 1.5 points above the database average of M5.7. Each whole magnitude point represents roughly 32x more energy released.
•The 34.0 km focal depth is classified as intermediate (average: 27 km across all events).
•A USGS significance score of 799 places this among the 265 most impactful events tracked, based on magnitude, felt reports, and damage potential.

Depth

34.0 km

Tsunami

Felt Reports

Significance

799

Earthquake Details

Magnitude	M7.2(mwc)
Classification	Major Earthquake
Location	207 km WSW of Adak, Alaska
Date & Time	December 19, 2007 18:30:27
Coordinates	51.3600N, 179.5090W
Depth	34.0 km (Intermediate)
Tsunami	No
Felt Reports	5 reports submitted to USGS
CDI (Community Intensity)	2.2
Significance Score	799 / 3,000
Status	reviewed

Magnitude Scale Context

Minor

3-3.9

Light

4-4.9

Moderate

5-5.9

Strong

6-6.9

Major

At M7.2, this is classified as a Major earthquake. Earthquakes of this size can cause serious damage across wide areas and may trigger tsunamis.

Official USGS Page: https://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/usp000fuse

Frequently Asked Questions

How strong was the 207 km WSW of Adak, Alaska earthquake?

The 207 km WSW of Adak, Alaska earthquake had a magnitude of 7.2 mwc, classified as a "Major" earthquake on the magnitude scale. Earthquakes of this size can cause serious damage to buildings and infrastructure over a wide area.

Where exactly did this earthquake occur and how deep was it?

This earthquake struck at coordinates 51.3600N, 179.5090W, at a depth of 34.0 km. This intermediate depth can still produce significant shaking at the surface.

Did this earthquake trigger a tsunami warning?

No tsunami warning was issued for this earthquake. While the magnitude was significant, the location and depth characteristics did not warrant a tsunami advisory.

How many people felt this earthquake?

5 people submitted felt reports to the USGS for this earthquake. The Community Decimal Intensity (CDI) reached 2.2, indicating light shaking noticed by some people.

When did this earthquake happen and how significant was it?

This earthquake occurred on December 19, 2007 at 18:30:27. The USGS assigned it a significance score of 799 out of a possible 3,000, which factors in magnitude, felt reports, and potential impact. This is a moderately significant seismic event.

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