Magnitude 4.2 earthquake strikes near Elfin Cove, Hoonah-Angoon, Alaska, USA

An earthquake of magnitude 4.2 occurred in the morning on Friday, January 16th, 2026, at 9:35 am local time near Elfin Cove, Hoonah-Angoon, Alaska, USA, as reported by the United States Geological Survey.
According to preliminary data, the quake was located at a very shallow depth of 0.6 miles. Shallow earthquakes are felt more strongly than deeper ones as they are closer to the surface. The exact magnitude, epicenter, and depth of the quake might be revised within the next few hours or minutes as seismologists review data and refine their calculations, or as other agencies issue their report.
A second report was later issued by the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC), which listed it as a magnitude 3.5 earthquake.
Based on the preliminary seismic data, the quake should not have caused any significant damage, but was probably felt by many people as light vibration in the area of the epicenter.
Weak shaking might have been felt in Elfin Cove (pop. 20) located 26 miles from the epicenter.
Other towns or cities near the epicenter where the quake might have been felt as very weak shaking include Pelican (pop. 91) located 39 miles from the epicenter, Gustavus (pop. 430) 45 miles away, and Hoonah (pop. 760) 58 miles away.

Earthquake data:
Date & time: Jan 16, 2026 09:35 am (Juneau time) local time (16 Jan 2026 18:35 GMT)
Magnitude: 4.2
Depth: 0.90 km
Epicenter latitude / longitude: 58.36°N / 136.98°W (Yakutat City and, Alaska, United States)
Primary data source: USGS
https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/earthquake/news/292102/Magnitude-42-earthquake-strikes-near-Elfin-Cove-Hoonah-Angoon-Alaska-USA.html