Rat Islands Earthquake (1965)
Natural eventAbout
The 1965 Rat Islands earthquake occurred on February 4, 1965, at 05:01 UTC. It had a magnitude of 8.7, making it one of the largest earthquakes in recorded history. The epicenter was located at 51.29°N, 178.55°E, in the Aleutian Islands, a chain of volcanic islands formed by the subduction of the Pacific Plate beneath the North American Plate. This event triggered a significant tsunami with a maximum run-up height of 10.7 meters on Shemya Island. Despite its large magnitude and tsunami, the earthquake caused minimal damage due to its remote location. The tsunami was also observed in other regions, including Amchitka Island, Attu Island, and as far away as Hawaii, Japan, and eastern Russia. Minor damage was reported on Attu and Shemya islands, with flooding causing $10,000 in damage on Amchitka Island. The earthquake's impact was largely limited due to the sparsely populated area affected.
