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| Magnitude 7.1 earthquake hits Alaska, one house explodes | Magnitude 7.1 earthquake hits Alaska, one house explodes |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| A magnitude-7.1 earthquake knocked items off shelves and walls in south-central Alaska and jolted the nerves of residents in this earthquake-prone region on Saturday night. But there were no immediate reports of injuries. | A magnitude-7.1 earthquake knocked items off shelves and walls in south-central Alaska and jolted the nerves of residents in this earthquake-prone region on Saturday night. But there were no immediate reports of injuries. |
| One home was extensively damaged and an entire neighborhood was evacuated after a gas leak was reported, the Kenai police chief, Gus Sandahl, said on Sunday morning. | |
| The earthquake struck about 1.30am and was centered 53 miles west of Anchor Point in the Kenai peninsula, which is about 160 miles south-west of Anchorage, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). | |
| The USGS initially reported the earthquake at magnitude 7.1, downgraded it shortly after to magnitude 6.8, before raising it back to 7.1. | The USGS initially reported the earthquake at magnitude 7.1, downgraded it shortly after to magnitude 6.8, before raising it back to 7.1. |
| “Some earthquakes have challenges associated with them, they are unusual or hard to monitor,” Alaska state seismologist Michael West said. “This is neither of them. southern Alaska is well instrumented, and this earthquake is of the style and type that we would expect in this area.” | “Some earthquakes have challenges associated with them, they are unusual or hard to monitor,” Alaska state seismologist Michael West said. “This is neither of them. southern Alaska is well instrumented, and this earthquake is of the style and type that we would expect in this area.” |
| He called it the strongest earthquake in this region of Alaska in decades. Alaska often has larger or more powerful earthquakes, such as a 7.9 last year in the Aleutians. | He called it the strongest earthquake in this region of Alaska in decades. Alaska often has larger or more powerful earthquakes, such as a 7.9 last year in the Aleutians. |
| “However, last night’s earthquake is significant because it was close enough to Alaskan’s population centers,” West said, adding that aftershocks could continue for weeks. | “However, last night’s earthquake is significant because it was close enough to Alaskan’s population centers,” West said, adding that aftershocks could continue for weeks. |
| The biggest aftershock on Sunday was 4.7, and West said a magnitude 5 or magnitude 6 aftershock was possible. | |
| The quake caused a gas leak that led to an explosion in one home and the evacuation of a neighborhood in the community of Kenai. About 30 homes were evacuated. | |
| A police officer extinguished a fire that started in a house. But flames started coming under a wall, and the officer backed off to let firefighters finish the work, Sandahl said. | A police officer extinguished a fire that started in a house. But flames started coming under a wall, and the officer backed off to let firefighters finish the work, Sandahl said. |
| A home neighboring the one that was on fire exploded hours after the quake, Sandahl said. All firefighters and gas utility workers were accounted for, and there were no reports of injuries. | A home neighboring the one that was on fire exploded hours after the quake, Sandahl said. All firefighters and gas utility workers were accounted for, and there were no reports of injuries. |
| Crews were “definitely still trying to resolve the gas issue”, Sandal said nearly eight hours after the earthquake. | Crews were “definitely still trying to resolve the gas issue”, Sandal said nearly eight hours after the earthquake. |
| A shelter was set up at the Kenai Armory for those evacuating their homes, and Sandahl said there were about 20 people there. | A shelter was set up at the Kenai Armory for those evacuating their homes, and Sandahl said there were about 20 people there. |
| The earthquake was widely felt by residents of Anchorage. But the Anchorage and Valdez police departments said they had not received any reports of injury or significant damage. | The earthquake was widely felt by residents of Anchorage. But the Anchorage and Valdez police departments said they had not received any reports of injury or significant damage. |
| Vincent Nusunginya, 34, of Kenai said he was at his girlfriend’s house when the earthquake hit. | Vincent Nusunginya, 34, of Kenai said he was at his girlfriend’s house when the earthquake hit. |
| “It started out as a shaking and it seemed very much like a normal earthquake. But then it started to feel like a normal swaying, like a very smooth side-to-side swaying,” said Nusunginya, director of audience at the Peninsula Clarion newspaper. “It was unsettling. Some things got knocked over, but there was no damage.” | “It started out as a shaking and it seemed very much like a normal earthquake. But then it started to feel like a normal swaying, like a very smooth side-to-side swaying,” said Nusunginya, director of audience at the Peninsula Clarion newspaper. “It was unsettling. Some things got knocked over, but there was no damage.” |
| There were reports of scattered power outages from the Matanuska Electric Association and Chugach Electric in the Anchorage area. The Homer Electric Association reported on its website that about 4,800 customers were without power early on Sunday in the Kenai peninsula. | |
| The Alaska department of transportation reported on its Facebook page that there was road damage near the community of Kasilof, on the Kenai peninsula. | |
| Andrew Sayers, 26, of Kasilof, was watching television when the quake struck. | Andrew Sayers, 26, of Kasilof, was watching television when the quake struck. |
| “The house started to shake violently. The TV we were watching fell over, stuff fell off the walls,” he said. “Dishes were crashing, and we sprinted toward the doorway.” | “The house started to shake violently. The TV we were watching fell over, stuff fell off the walls,” he said. “Dishes were crashing, and we sprinted toward the doorway.” |
| Later, he was driving to his mother’s home when he came across a stretch of K-Beach road that was damaged in the quake. | Later, he was driving to his mother’s home when he came across a stretch of K-Beach road that was damaged in the quake. |
| “We launched over this crack in the road. It’s a miracle we didn’t bust our tires on it,” he said. | “We launched over this crack in the road. It’s a miracle we didn’t bust our tires on it,” he said. |
| A tsunami is not expected as a result of the earthquake, the National Weather Service said. | A tsunami is not expected as a result of the earthquake, the National Weather Service said. |