Major Earthquake Strikes Alaska, Felt as Far as Canada
A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.0 shook Alaska, causing tremors that were felt even in Canada. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the quake occurred in the region around Yakutat, Alaska, at a depth of 6.21 miles. Yakutat, which had a population of just 657 people in 2020, is located about 300 miles from Anchorage, where the quake was also felt.
In the hours following the main quake, the USGS recorded three additional earthquakes in the same area. These included a 5.3 magnitude and a 5.0 magnitude quake. Fortunately, there were no tsunami warnings issued, and no immediate reports of damage or injuries were received.
In Whitehorse, Canada, Royal Canadian Mounted Police Sergeant Calista MacLeod confirmed that her detachment received two 911 calls regarding the earthquake. “It definitely was felt,” she said. “There are a lot of people on social media, people felt it.” She added that there were no reports of damage or injury.
According to NASA, the Earth experiences an average of 18 major earthquakes each year, measuring between 7.0 and 7.9 on the Richter scale, with one or more earthquakes above 8.0 occurring annually.
The magnitude of an earthquake indicates its strength. A 7.0 to 7.9 magnitude quake is considered a major event that can cause serious damage. Alison Bird, a seismologist with Natural Resources Canada, noted that the part of the Yukon most affected by this temblor is home to scenic mountains and few people. “Mostly people have reported things falling off shelves and walls,” Bird said. “It doesn’t seem like we’ve seen anything in terms of structural damage.”
The Canadian community closest to the epicenter is Haines Junction, approximately 80 miles away. According to the Yukon Bureau of Statistics, the population of Haines Junction in 2022 was 1,018.
The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities shared updates on Facebook following the quake. They stated: “Following the earthquake that occurred this morning around 11:40 a.m., approximately north of Yakutat, Haines, and Skagway, DOT&PF is conducting standard post-event inspections of state highways, bridges, airports, and other transportation infrastructure in the region. At this time, no major travel impacts are expected. If any issues are identified, updates will be shared here and through Alaska 51.”
In September, a large-scale 7.8 magnitude earthquake off Russia’s east coast triggered tsunami alerts in Alaska. Following that event, the USGS detected more than a dozen aftershocks, ranging from 4.8 to 5.6 in magnitude.
Just last month, a series of quakes rocked the Central Coast of California after a significant shake hit the area. More than a dozen tremors were reported across one afternoon, all centered in a one-mile area near the towns of Templeton and San Luis Obispo. The first quake registered as 2.0. Three hours earlier, a more powerful 3.3 tremor shook the coastal region.
The swarm began after a 4.1 earthquake erupted just four miles away from Templeton. The sudden quake was reported along the coastline, from Salinas in the north to Lompoc in the south, both more than 60 miles away.
Did you feel the earth-shaking 6.0 magnitude Alaska quake that left 6,000 people reporting tremors and rattled Anchorage residents? Did a colossal 7.3-magnitude earthquake in Alaska unleash a terrifying tsunami and global seismic shockwaves?