News

Actions

Magnitude-7.1 earthquake hit southern Alaska

Posted
and last updated

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) -- A magnitude-7.1 earthquake hit southern Alaska early Sunday morning, awakening residents and shaking buildings in this earthquake-prone region.

The earthquake struck about 1:30 a.m. Alaska time and was centered 55 miles southeast of the town of Illiamna and 160 miles southwest of Anchorage, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The earthquake was widely felt by residents of Anchorage, and there are reports of scatted power outages.

Anchorage resident Ron Barta says his house shook about 1:34 a.m. when the earthquake hit. Barta, 55, says the pictures on the walls started moving, but there was no damage to his house and no one was hurt.

Barta, who has lived in Anchorage for about 10 years, says Alaskans on social media say the earthquake woke them up.

The National Weather Service says a tsunami is not expected.

AP-WF-01-24-16 1111GMT