7.1 magnitude earthquake struck southern Alaska today, US Geological Survey
ANCHORAGE – South-central Alaska was rocked by a strong and prolonged magnitude-7.1 earthquake early Sunday morning. The earthquake struck about 1:30 a.m. Alaska time and was centered 53 miles west of Anchor Point and 160 miles southwest of Anchorage, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said there was no risk of a tidal wave because the earthquake is located too deep inside the earth.
The earthquake was widely felt by residents of Anchorage, and there are reports of scattered power outages from the Matanuska Electric Association and Chugach Electric in the Anchorage area.
The Homer Electric Association reported on its website that about 4,800 customers were without power early Sunday in the Kenai Peninsula. The Anchorage and Valdez police departments say they have not received any reports of injury or significant damage.
Anchorage resident Ron Barta says his house shook about 1:34 a.m. when the earthquake hit.
The KSRM (Radio Kenai) radio station in the Kenai Peninsula reported that about 2:30 a.m. the Kenai Fire Department was on the scene of a gas leak and explosion at a home.
Two more smaller earthquakes struck within 30 minutes after the first one.
