Thursday, July 29, 2021

THE STRONGEST QUAKE IN NORTH AMERICA

8.2 magnitude earthquake rocks Alaska — the strongest quake to hit the US in 50 years



A tsunami watch was issued for parts of the state and Hawaii, but it has since been lifted.

By 
Alexandra Kelley | July 29, 2021


U.S. Geological Survey


Story at a glance

An 8.2 magnitude quake shook Alaska this morning near Perryville and Chignik.

Tsunami warnings were issued for both Alaska and Hawaii.

The quake was the strongest recorded in the U.S. in 50 years.


An 8.2 magnitude earthquake hit Alaska early Thursday morning, prompting the brief issuance of a tsunami warning that has since been recalled.

The U.S. Geological Survey confirmed that the quake, which occurred on July 28 in local time, was centered in Perryville, south of the Alaskan Peninsula. Experts note that the earthquake occurred due to thrust faulting near the subduction zone interface between the Pacific and North American tectonic plates.

This was the strongest earthquake to take place in the U.S. in 50 years.

Since the larger 8.2 earthquake, aftershocks have hit the surrounding Perryville region, mainly near Chignik, Alaska. The largest aftershock was a 6.1 magnitude earthquake in Chignik.

At least 268 residents have reported feeling some level of seismic activity. Other reports note that communities further from the epicenter, including those in the Mat-Su Valley in Southcentral Alaska, felt shaking.

Since the quake struck a coastal area, a tsunami advisory was issued for the Alaska Peninsula and 75 miles southeast of Chignik, but the advisory was lifted. A corresponding tsunami warning was issued for Hawaii, which was ultimately canceled, per state Governor David Ige (D).

Larger-magnitude earthquakes are common along the Alaska-Aleutian subduction zone. The U.S. Geological Survey notes that since 1900, there have been eight other earthquakes that recorded more than a 7-level magnitude.

8.2-magnitude earthquake off Alaska Peninsula sparks tsunami watch for 
Hawaii

By Staff Reuters
Posted July 29, 2021 1:51 am
The approximate location of a 8.2-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Alaska 
on July 28, 2021. U.S. Geological Survey


A shallow earthquake of magnitude 8.2 struck the Alaska Peninsula late on Wednesday, prompting tsunami warnings in the region and an alert in Hawaii, authorities said.


There were no immediate reports on loss of property or life.

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The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said the quake, which struck at 10:15 p.m. local time (0615 GMT Thursday), was at a depth of 35 km.



In Alaska, the National Tsunami Warning Center (NTWC) issued warnings for southern parts, the Peninsula, and Pacific coastal areas from Hinchinbrook Entrance to Unimak Pass. It also issued a “tsunami watch” for the U.S. state of Hawaii.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) said the possibility of a tsunami threat to the U.S. state of Hawaii and the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam was being investigated.

Japan’s Meteorological Agency was investigating whether there was a possibility of a tsunami hitting Japan, the public broadcaster NHK said.

Authorities in New Zealand also said they were assessing if there was any danger to coastal regions.


The U.S. NTWC and local authorities said they were evaluating the level of tsunami danger for other U.S. and Canadian Pacific coastal areas.

The tremor struck about 91 km east-southeast of Perryville in Alaska. It was about 800 km (500 miles) from Anchorage, Alaska’s biggest city. It was followed by seven aftershocks, two of them above magnitude 6.0, according to USGS.ENT

(Reporting by Shubham Kalia; Editing by Kevin Liffey)


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