7.0 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Alaska

A powerful magnitude 7.0 earthquake has struck a sparsely populated area bordering Alaska and Canada’s Yukon territory. Local officials confirmed that no tsunami warning was issued following the tremor. As of the time of this report, there have been no confirmed casualties or major damages.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported the earthquake’s location. It struck approximately 370 kilometers northwest of Juneau, Alaska, and about 250 kilometers west of Whitehorse, Yukon.

Epicenter and Aftershocks
The earthquake’s hypocenter, or point of origin, was relatively shallow—about 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) deep. Several smaller aftershocks were felt immediately after the main quake.

The USGS stated the epicenter was about 91 kilometers (56 miles) from the town of Yakutat, Alaska, which has a population of 662 residents.

Impact and Response
Sergeant Calista MacLeod of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in Whitehorse reported that their unit received two emergency calls regarding the earthquake. She confirmed that the tremor was clearly felt, and many residents posted about feeling the shaking on social media.

Dr. Alison Bird, a seismologist with Natural Resources Canada, commented on the impact zone. She noted that the most affected part of the Yukon is mountainous and very sparsely populated. “People mostly reported items falling off shelves and walls,” she said. “No information about structural damage has been received yet.”