Home / Disasters and Accidents / Alaskan Earthquake Strikes Amid Typhoon Halong's Aftermath
Alaskan Earthquake Strikes Amid Typhoon Halong's Aftermath
17 Oct
Summary
- 5.0 magnitude earthquake hits off Akutan, Alaska
- Typhoon Halong's remnants cause record storm surge, destroying homes
- Thousands airlifted to safety from northwestern Alaska
In the aftermath of a devastating typhoon, Alaska has been hit by a powerful 5.0 magnitude earthquake. The quake, detected by the US Geological Survey on October 17, 2025, struck about 39 miles off the coast of Akutan, a small community home to nearly 1,600 people.
The seismic activity comes just days after the remnants of Typhoon Halong battered the western region of Alaska, causing a record storm surge that wiped away homes and killed at least one person. Two others remain missing. The coastal villages of Kipnuk and Kwigillingok were among the hardest hit, with dozens of homes completely destroyed and submerged.
In one of the largest airlifts in Alaska's history, hundreds of people have been evacuated from the affected areas and flown about 500 miles to Anchorage for shelter. The US Coast Guard also rescued two dozen people from their homes in Kwigillingok after the structures floated out to sea in the high water.
