Major US City on Volcanic Alert Amid Ongoing Earthquake Swarms

Anchorage Shaken by Back-to-Back Earthquakes Amid Volcanic Advisory
By Stacy Liberatore for DailyMail.com
Published: 20:06 BST, 24 July 2025 | Updated: 20:27 BST, 24 July 2025

Anchorage, Alaska—home to nearly 300,000 residents—experienced two earthquakes within hours on Thursday, intensifying concerns amid ongoing volcanic activity near Mount Spurr.

The first quake, a magnitude 3.2, struck 48 miles north of Anchorage at 5:23 a.m. local time, with tremors felt across the city. A second, slightly weaker magnitude 2.9 quake followed at 10:13 a.m., centered near Elmendorf Air Force Base. While neither caused injuries or damage, over 100 residents reported feeling the stronger tremor to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

Image: A map showing Anchorage’s location relative to tectonic plate boundaries and recent earthquake epicenters.

Why Alaska?
Alaska’s frequent seismic activity stems from its position along the Aleutian subduction zone, where the Pacific Plate collides with the North American Plate. Elmendorf Air Force Base, a critical military site with 800+ buildings, lies directly on this boundary. The region averages 40,000 earthquakes annually, though most are too minor to feel.

According to Michigan Tech University, quakes below magnitude 2.5 typically go unnoticed, while those between 2.5 and 5.4 may be felt but rarely cause significant damage.

Image: Aerial view of Elmendorf Air Force Base, highlighting its infrastructure.

Mount Spurr’s Unrest
Anchorage sits just 78 miles from Mount Spurr, an active volcano currently under an “Advisory” status after earlier 2025 warnings of a potential eruption. The Alaska Volcano Observatory notes that while volcanic activity has decreased, authorities continue monitoring for signs of resurgence.

Residents React
Local accounts described the quakes as brief but unsettling. “It felt like a heavy truck passing by, but longer,” one Anchorage resident told DailyMail.com. Others took to social media to share footage of swaying light fixtures.

Despite the twin tremors, experts reassure that no immediate eruption threat exists. However, the events underscore Alaska’s vulnerability to natural disasters, from earthquakes to volcanic activity.

Image: Mount Spurr showing steam vents and seismic monitoring equipment.

Officials urge residents to maintain emergency kits and stay updated via USGS alerts. As tectonic stresses continue to build beneath the region, Anchorage remains on watch—proving once again why Alaska is called “The Shaking State.”

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Note: Image placeholders indicated; actual article would include visuals of Anchorage, tectonic maps, Elmendorf AFB, and Mount Spurr.