Powerful 6.0-Magnitude Quake Jolts South-Central Alaska; No Major Damage
Strong earthquake rattles Anchorage region just hours before Thanksgiving feasts begin.
A 6.0-magnitude earthquake jolted south-central Alaska at precisely 8:11 a.m. local time on Thursday, the United States Geological Survey reported. The epicenter was located 12 kilometers west-northwest of the small community of Susitna and roughly 108 kilometers northwest of downtown Anchorage, placing the entire metropolitan area within the zone of strong shaking. The quake originated at a relatively deep focal depth of 69 kilometers, which likely moderated surface intensity.
Rapid inspections conducted by Anchorage municipal teams immediately after the event detected no significant structural damage to homes, commercial buildings, roads, bridges, or essential public infrastructure. Mayor Suzanne LaFrance stated that engineers and emergency crews completed preliminary checks of critical facilities and confirmed the city’s core systems remained fully operational.
The National Tsunami Warning Center assessed the earthquake parameters within minutes and issued a formal statement confirming that no tsunami was expected along Alaska’s coast or elsewhere in the Pacific. Residents received automated alerts reassuring them that coastal evacuations were unnecessary.
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Alaska lies at the convergence of major tectonic plates and records more earthquakes than any other U.S. state, experiencing tens of thousands of tremors annually and at least one magnitude-7 or greater event almost every year. Thursday’s 6.0 quake ranks as the most powerful to strike the south-central region since a similar event in 2021, serving as another reminder of the state’s constant seismic risk.
Despite the abrupt start to the holiday morning, no injuries were reported across the affected area. Power and communication networks continued without major interruption, allowing Thanksgiving preparations and family gatherings to proceed largely as planned throughout Anchorage and surrounding communities.
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