An Alaska earthquake with a magnitude of 7.1 struck the south central region early Sunday morning, destroying four homes and forcing evacuations on Kenai Peninsula. One long-timer said it was "huge" and the strongest ever.
The quake could be felt from Fairbanks to Juneau as it shook buildings and knocked items off shelves, said the
Alaska Dispatch News. Power was severed in spots throughout the region.
The
Alaska Earthquake Center website reported that the earthquake occurred about 60 miles west of Homer about 1:30 a.m. local time. The center said on Sunday that there were no immediate reports of injuries.
The earthquake center said the 7.1 magnitude was the largest intermediate-depth earthquake recorded under the Cook Inlet since the regional seismic network started in late 1960s. The tremor occurred at a depth of 76 miles, noted the center.
Along with the damaged homes, The Kenai Fire Department reported several fires near the Kenai Spur Highway and a "gas leak/explosion," according to the Dispatch News. Officials evacuated some Kenai residents to the area's National Guard Armory because of the fear of gas leaks.
A True Value Hardware store in Anchorage posted a surveillance video inside the business during the earthquake as it tumbled over aisles.
"This was huge," Niki Steinhorst Burrows told
KTUU-TV. "Strongest one I've ever felt since I moved here in 1971. No other damage. Just shook up."
The Alaska Earthquake Center reported about 30 aftershocks in the first 2.5 hours after the tremor, with the strongest being a magnitude 4.3 at 3:37 a.m. Sunday local time. The center said the aftershocks are expected to continue for several months.
Some shared their earthquake damage on social media.
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