A 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck near the Aleutian Islands in Alaska on Monday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The tremor occurred at a shallow depth of 1 kilometer (0.62 miles), prompting monitoring by the US Tsunami Warning System. Authorities confirmed that no tsunami warning was issued following the event.
The earthquake’s epicenter was located approximately 93 kilometers southwest of Nikolski, a remote region of the Bering Sea. Due to its isolated location, there were no immediate reports of injuries or structural damage. Seismologists recorded at least one aftershock measuring 3.4 magnitude shortly after the mainshock, occurring roughly 85 kilometers southwest of Nikolski at a depth of 10 kilometers. Aftershocks are common following events of this size, and monitoring is ongoing.
The Alaska earthquake occurred at a relatively shallow depth of approximately 19.9 kilometers, which can produce stronger surface shaking. However, the sparse population in the Aleutian region limited the impact.
A separate, smaller earthquake was recorded off the Southern California coast on Monday. The 3.4 to 3.5 magnitude tremor struck in the Pacific Ocean near Catalina Island, roughly 21 to 23 miles southwest of Torrance. The quake was widely felt in Torrance, Redondo Beach, Manhattan Beach, Carson, Palos Verdes and parts of Long Beach.
Alaska is highly susceptible to seismic activity. The U.S. Geological Survey notes that the state experiences a magnitude 7 earthquake nearly every year, making it the most earthquake-prone state in the U.S. And one of the most seismically active areas in the world. The recent quake was the largest to hit south-central Alaska since 2021, according to reports.
In November 2023, a 6.0-magnitude earthquake shook the Anchorage metropolitan area, according to the USGS. That tremor occurred around 8:11 am local time at a depth of 69 kilometers (43 miles), approximately 67 miles (108 kilometers) northwest of Anchorage. Municipal inspectors at the time found no problems in critical public infrastructure, according to a social media update from Anchorage Mayor Suzanne LaFrance. The US Tsunami Warning System also stated that a tsunami was not expected following that event, and some residents jokingly referred to the Thanksgiving holiday as “Shakesgiving” online.
Meanwhile, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has taken steps to protect its critical financial infrastructure by establishing a high-security data centre in Bhubaneswar, Odisha. The location was strategically chosen to be away from potential cross-border threat areas and regions with high seismic risk. The new facility will host core computing systems that support the central bank’s currency management, payment and settlement operations, and regulatory data functions.
Analysts note that the Odisha facility is situated well away from India’s western and northern borders, reducing exposure to potential threats. It also lies outside the country’s highest seismic risk zones, lowering susceptibility to major earthquakes. This strategic placement, they say, strengthens the safety and continuity framework for critical financial systems.
The RBI’s new data centre is its second, with the Primary Data Centre located in Kharghar, Navi Mumbai. Unlike Mumbai and Chennai, which host a significant portion of India’s data centres, Odisha is not a landing site for major subsea communication cables. By placing the facility away from these hubs and dense digital traffic corridors, the RBI may be aiming for infrastructure that is better insulated from concentrated cyber risks and network vulnerabilities.
Globally, central banks and major financial institutions are increasingly establishing and managing their own secure data centres, prioritizing data security, operational control, and systemic resilience over reliance on public infrastructure. The RBI’s move reflects this growing trend, particularly in light of recent events where a commercial bank reportedly moved its data centre operations overnight from Jaipur to Mumbai amid heightened tensions and drone activity along the border.
