According to the news released by the United States Geological Survey (USGS), a magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck the Anchorage metropolitan area in Alaska on Thursday morning, November 27. As of now, there have been no reports of casualties or significant property damage.
The earthquake occurred around 8:11 am local time with a depth of 69 kilometers (43 miles), and the epicenter was located approximately 12 kilometers (7 miles) northwest of Susitna in Alaska.
The US National Tsunami Warning Center stated that the earthquake is not expected to trigger a tsunami.
Alaska has a higher frequency of earthquakes compared to any other region in the United States, as reported by the Alaska Seismic Hazards Safety Commission. The USGS also noted that Alaska is the state with the most frequent seismic activity in the US and one of the most seismically active regions in the world. The state experiences nearly a magnitude 7 earthquake every year.
According to the Alaska Earthquake Center, Alaska is situated at the boundary between the Pacific Plate and the North American Plate, making it prone to strong earthquakes.
As reported by KTUU television station, the earthquake that occurred on Thursday is the largest to hit the central and southern regions of Alaska since 2021.
In 1964, the Prince William Sound area of Alaska experienced a 9.2 magnitude earthquake, which is the second-largest recorded earthquake in history.