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6.1 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Remote Bering Sea Region

A significant magnitude 6.1 earthquake occurred in the Bering Sea, an area where the central region is typically quiet. The event, detailed by the National Center for Seismology, struck at a depth of 45 kilometers. The seismicity in the northern Bering Sea marks the boundary of the Bering microplate, while the southern edge is part of the active Aleutian Arc. This event falls within the planet's most active seismic zone, the Pacific "Ring of Fire," where tectonic plate interactions cause major quakes.

Key Points: 6.1 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Bering Sea

  • Magnitude 6.1 quake at 45km depth
  • Located in largely aseismic central Bering Sea
  • Part of the circum-Pacific "Ring of Fire"
  • Strike-slip mechanism linked to tectonic structures
2 min read

Earthquake of magnitude 6.1 rocks Bering Sea

A magnitude 6.1 earthquake struck the Bering Sea at a depth of 45km. Learn about the region's seismic activity and the "Ring of Fire."

"EQ of M: 6.1, On: 23/02/2026 10:41:52 IST, Lat: 52.81 N, Long: 170.08 W, Depth: 45 Km, Location: Bering Sea. - National Center for Seismology"

Bering Sea, February 23

An earthquake of magnitude 6.1 rocked Bering Sea on Monday, a statement by the National Center for Seismology said.

The earthquake occurred at a depth of 45km.

In a post on X, the NCS said, "EQ of M: 6.1, On: 23/02/2026 10:41:52 IST, Lat: 52.81 N, Long: 170.08 W, Depth: 45 Km, Location: Bering Sea."

The central region of the Bering Sea is virtually aseismic. In the north, a wide diffuse zone of seismicity extends from western Alaska across the Bering Strait into eastern Russia. This zone is believed to mark the northern boundary of the Bering microplate. The southern edge of the Bering Sea is marked by the Aleutian Arc, where seismicity is associated with the ongoing subduction processes, as per a study by the University of Alaska.

In 1991, a magnitude 6.6 earthquake occurred about 210 km (150 miles) to the southeast of the April 30, 2010 earthquakes. The 1991 and 2010 earthquakes indicate N-S extension and E-W compression of the crust.

The source area of the April 30, 2010 event might be structurally linked to the graben-like structure that underlies the headwall area of Zhemchug Canyon, which is the largest submarine canyon in the world (by volume). Both the mainshock and largest aftershock are strike-slip earthquakes. The structural grain of the headwall structures is NW-SE, parallel to the left-lateral nodal plane of the April 30 events. The right-lateral nodal plane is parallel to the crustal fabric of the hypothetical offshore continuation of the great family of NE-SW trending strike-slip faults of western Alaska (Kaltag, Kobuk, Denali, etc.). If these crustal structures continue offshore, they may be the source of the April 30 earthquakes, as per the University of Alaska.

The world's greatest earthquake belt, the circum-Pacific seismic belt, is found along the rim of the Pacific Ocean, where about 81 per cent of our planet's largest earthquakes occur. It has earned the nickname "Ring of Fire," the USGS states.

The belt exists along boundaries of tectonic plates, where plates of mostly oceanic crust are sinking (or subducting) beneath another plate. Earthquakes in these subduction zones are caused by slip between plates and rupture within plates. Earthquakes in the circum-Pacific seismic belt include the M9.5 Chilean Earthquake [Valdivia Earthquake] (1960) and the M9.2 Alaska Earthquake (1964).

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
The science behind this is fascinating but honestly a bit scary. 6.1 is a significant quake. Hope no tsunamis were triggered. Our NDMA should study these events to improve our own early warning systems.
A
Aman W
Nature's power is humbling. Reading about the tectonic plates and the 'Ring of Fire' reminds me of the 2004 tsunami. We can never be too prepared. Good that Indian agencies are tracking these global events.
S
Sarah B
The article is very technical, which is great for science enthusiasts. But a simpler summary at the start would help common readers understand the immediate impact and risk level. Just a suggestion for future reporting! 🙏
V
Vikram M
Depth of 45km is considerable. Thankfully, it seems to have caused no damage. It's a reminder that Earth is constantly changing beneath our feet. Jai Hind.
K
Karthik V
Interesting data from the NCS. While this is far from India, it shows how interconnected global geology is. The mention of the 1964 Alaska quake is chilling. We must invest in resilient infrastructure.

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