The earthquake was a strike-slip event that occurred near the Aleutian Trench within the Pacific Plate, where it subducts beneath the North American Plate. The region has produced twelve large earthquakes since 1900, including several megathrust earthquakes.[1][6] According to the United States Geological Survey, the earthquake occurred 175 miles (282 km) southeast of Kodiak, Alaska at 12:31 AM local time (AKST). Witnesses to the earthquake itself reported that it was very long in duration, feeling like a "slow roller," but it was not a violent earthquake despite its magnitude.