Alaska gets 7.1-magnitude earthquake, numerous aftershocks
ALASKA, USA (AP) — An earthquake that struck south-central Alaska early yesterday morning could be followed by aftershocks for weeks.
The US Geological Survey on its website lists the temblor at magnitude 7.1. That was the initial magnitude given by the federal agency before downgrading it to magnitude 6.8 shortly after the quake.
There were no injuries in the earthquake felt across Alaska’s most populated areas. It did cause a gas leak that led to an explosion in one home and the evacuation of a neighbourhood in the community of Kenai.
Alaska State Seismologist Michael West says this is the largest earthquake in decades in this region of Alaska. He also says there’s been numerous smaller aftershocks, and those could continue for weeks. One aftershock, some two hours later, clocked a magnitude 4.3 aftershock in Cook Inlet, the agency said.
Homes that have been evacuated as firefighters, policemen and gas utility workers continue to work on the gas leak that followed a magnitude the earthquake. It was centred about 160 miles south-west of Anchorage.
