Alaska witnesses 7.0 M quake followed by 45 aftershocks

 

 

 

New Delhi, December 1: The Anchorage city of Alaska witnessed the largest earthquake since 2016 measuring the magnitude of 7.0 on Friday morning. The earthquake caused damage to the roads and buildings, government offices and resulted in the closure of schools all over. “The extent of the damage is not yet clear, and we are still waiting for word on whether there were any casualties.”, reported the Alaska Earthquake centre.

Anchorage at 8:29 am on Friday morning, at a depth of about 27 miles also caused power outages in the area. The police there however requested the masses to keep their lines clear and call only in case of emergencies. The Department of Telecommunications also urged to keep the roads clear and commute steadily if at all required.

It was in year 2016, that Alaska had closely observed the 7.1 magnitude quake in Inskin. This particular calamity being close to the one in 2016, the impacts of the Anchorage and Matanuska-Susitna Valley so far to be noted include significant road damage, ceiling collapse at a Key Bank, flooding at the Alaska Railroad headquarters, Seward Highway closed due to landslide.

 

 

The immediate aftershock measuring 5.7 magnitude immediately after 6 minutes in the Northern Alaska created scramble amongst the local residents. People ran from their offices or took cover under desks. A large section of road near the Anchorage airport collapsed, leaving a car on a narrow island of pavement surrounded by deep rifts in the concrete.

Meanwhile, the Anchorage School District had been shut and students at some schools were immediately moved to other safe locations. State offices were closed for the day, and the railroad and other public transport facilities had both shut down for safety inspections.

Alaska earthquakes fast facts : 

7.0 earthquake struck at 8:29 local time

 

5.7 aftershock struck 6 minutes later at 8:35

 

Tsunami warning was issued and then lifted a short time later.

 

Anchorage police chief said he was unaware of reports of deaths or serious injuries.

 

So far there have been at least 45 'aftershocks,' all of them magnitude 2.5 or larger

 

Around 48,000 power outages have been reported.

 

Numerous aftershocks have hit the area.

 

One quake was felt 350 miles away in Fairbanks.