An earthquake of magnitude 6.2 shook the Alaska Peninsula early Monday morning, according to the National Centre for Seismology (NCS) and the US Geological Survey (USGS). The quake struck at 3:58 AM IST (late Sunday in Alaska) at a depth of 48 kilometres.
The USGS reported the epicentre was located 81 kilometres south-southeast of Sand Point, Alaska, at latitude 54.99 North and longitude 159.98 West. Sand Point is a small community on the peninsula’s eastern coast. The peninsula is prone to high seismic activity due to its position along the Pacific “Ring of Fire.”
The USGS described the earthquake as “notable,” confirming that it may have been felt by residents in Sand Point and nearby areas. No tsunami warning was issued. Local emergency officials are monitoring the situation but have not reported any injuries or damage so far.
Earlier, an earthquake measuring 7.3 on the Richter scale struck the Alaska Peninsula on July 17. The powerful quake hit at a shallow depth of 10 kilometres (6.21 miles).
Following the tremor, the US Tsunami Warning System issued a tsunami warning for parts of coastal Alaska. However, just over an hour later, the warning was reduced to an advisory as the immediate threat eased. Later, the weather agency cancelled all the tsunami warning, advisories, watches, or threats.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) said the earthquake south of Sand Point happened due to “the result of thrust faulting on or near the subduction zone interface between the Pacific and North America plates.”
4.6 MAGNITUDE QUAKE HITS TAJIKISTAN
About 45 minutes after the Alaska quake, a separate 4.6 magnitude earthquake struck Tajikistan. The NCS recorded this tremor at 4:43 AM IST, at a depth of 23 kilometres with coordinates 37.39 North and 72.58 East.
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