A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.4 on the Richter scale was reported in south central Alaska on June 22, 2009. The quake's epicenter was near the town of Willow, about 60 miles from Anchorage. There were no immediate reports of damage.CBS News: Strong Earthquake Felt In Alaska (June 22, 2009)
The Great Alaska Earthquake
On March 27, 1964, Alaska suffered a massive earthquake that caused a tsunami, which was responsible for the death of 131 people. The magnitude of the quake was 9.2 and lasted for five minutes. Property was displaced in a 100,000 mile area after the rupture of Pacific and North American plates near Prince William Sound.
75 miles away from the epicenter, Anchorage suffered severe damage and nine lives were claimed by the earthquake and its resulting landslides.
The tsunami caused waves and damages in Prince Rupert, Hot Springs Cove, Zeballos, Amai and Tofino, British Columbia, and visited Port Alberni two separate times, with devastating destruction to homes there.
There were more than 10,000 aftershocks that took place over an 18 month time period.AEIC: The Great Alaska Earthquake
April 2009 Quake
Southcentral Alaska suffered an earthquake of 4.7 magnitude on Tuesday, April 7, 2009. The earthquake was outside of Anchorage, an area that has seen its share of earthquakes in the past.KTUU.com: Earthquake jolts Southcentral
Alaska Earthquake Blogs and Commentaries
- U.S. Geological Survey: Shakemap ak97090
References
Fast Facts
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Fact:
The earthquake depth was shallow at 16 miles
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Fact:
No damage reports have surfaced
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Fact:
Some Alaskan earthquakes are 150 miles deep
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Fact:
A moderate earthquake shook Anchorage, Alaska for several seconds, Wednesday, November 28, 2007
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Fact:
A 7.2 magnitude earthquake shook the western end of Alaska's Aleutian Islands on Wednesday, December 19, 2007
