An earthquake of magnitude 7.9 has shaken seabed off coast of Alaska and awakened fears of a tsunami in U.S. state. The American earthquake wait USGS also registered several aftershocks. Worries, a tidal wave could hit parts of Alaska, Canada, and even densely populated US west coast, but proved unfounded. A few hours after quake, authorities largely gave a clear warning. Only about 20 centimetres of elevated water levels were measured. No consequences were known on land except for minor damage to buildings.
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The surge occurred to inhabitants of Alaska in middle of night, according to USGS on Tuesday at 0.31 a.m. local time (10.31 a.m. German times). The epicenter of earthquake was expected to be 280 kilometers souast of city of Kodiak in Gulf of Alaska. The quake occurred at a depth of 25 kilometers. The main quake was followed by several aftershocks with strengths between 4 and 5. The US broadcaster CNN quoted an eyewitness who was on a fishing boat in front of Kodiak at time of quake. He felt a “proper shaking” for a minute.
The US meteorological service had initially warned against a potentially destructive tsunami and announced tsunami waves within three hours. The police of city of Kodiak in Alaska – it is closest to epicenter – called on inhabitants to leave ir homes and to go on elevations at least 30 meters above sea level. Kodiak’s port staff reported retiring water according to police. The authorities in Kodiak and surrounding area had initially planned to set up school for Tuesday and to release higher school buildings as emergency. The plan was abandoned after warning.
According to geological Service of USA rund250 kilometers souast of Kodiak in Alaska in a Tiefevon of 25 kilometers, epicenter of quake, initially with a strength of 8.2, was specified at 10.31 a.m. CET. People felt a slight impact on media. Reports of possible damages were not available so far.
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The epicenter is located in so-called Pacific Ring. This ring around Pacific Ocean is geologically one of most dangerous regions of world, because it is a meeting of different plates of Earth’s crust. Again and again re are tectonic shifts that result in volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and tsunamis. The ring spans more than 40,000 kilometers from south and North American west coasts to Alaska, Russia, Japan and Souast Asia.
