A fierce earthquake with a magnitude of 6.8 on the richter scale, has struck south-central Alaska in the dead of night in the earthquake prone region. Hit the jump for the full story.
The earthquake struck about 1:30 a.m. Alaska time and was centered 53 miles west of Anchor Point in the Kenai Peninsula – about 160 miles southwest of Anchorage, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Approximately two hours later, a magnitude of 4.3 aftershock hit the Cook Inlet, than a slightly stronger aftershock — magnitude-4.7 — hit the Cook Inlet at 5.29 a.m.
A possible gas leak led to the evacuation of more than a dozen Kenai homes, as the quake was felt by residents throughout Anchorage. Anchorage and Valdez police have not received any reports of injuries or great damage.
Vincent Nusunginya, 34 and director of audience at the Peninsula Clarion newspaper of Kenai said he was at his girlfriend’s house when the earthquake hit:
“It started out as a shaking and it seemed very much like a normal earthquake. But then it started to feel like a normal swaying, like a very smooth side-to-side swaying. It was unsettling. Some things got knocked over, but there was no damage.”
In addition, many were left without power throughout 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.
Andrew Sayers, 26, of Kasilof was watching television when the quake struck:
“The house started to shake violently. The TV we were watching fell over, stuff fell off the walls. Dishes were crashing and we sprinted toward the doorway.”
Sayers also said there was severe road damage in K-beach road driving to his mother’s house:
“We launched over this crack in the road. It’s a miracle we didn’t bust our tires on it.”
The National Weather Service has stated that a tsunami is not expected to arise as a result of the earthquake.
