Four Homes Lost Following 7.1 Earthquake In Southern Alaska

A magnitude-7.1 quake knocked items off shelves and walls in Alaska early Sunday morning, jolting the nerves of residents in this earthquake-prone region. There were no reports of injuries, but four homes were lost to explosions or fire following the quake. Alaska’s state seismologist, Michael West, called it the strongest earthquake in the state’s south-central region in decades. Alaska often has larger or more powerful earthquakes, such as a 7.9 last year in the remote Aleutian Islands.
"However, last night’s earthquake is significant because it was close enough to Alaska’s population centers," West said, adding that aftershocks could continue for weeks.