Powerful earthquake hits near Alaska sparking fears of a tsunami

"The US Geological Survey (USGS) detected a 5.2 magnitude quake at 1am local time (5:02am ET) in Nikolski. The USGS shows a 60 percent chance of a 3-magnitude or greater hit near the epicenter in the next week, along with a small two percent chance of another 5-magnitude or greater. While there was no immediate tsunami warning, online reports suggested residents and authorities are on edge as they assess the potential impacts."

"The Alaska Earthquake Center said the Aleutian megathrust was responsible for the earthquakes. 'It is a seismically active region, evidenced by the thousands of earthquakes occurring each year,' the Alaska Earthquake Center said. This major subduction zone is where the Pacific Plate is forced beneath the North American Plate, generating significant seismic activity. The USGS said the quake had a depth of 6.2 miles, which would generally produce stronger shaking at the surface than deeper ones of the same magnitude."

"These earthquakes brought back memories of the 8.8-magnitude quake off Russia in July, when Alaska officials issued a tsunami alert. Data from the US Geological Survey (USGS) showed the earthquake struck about 84 miles east-southeast of Kamchatska on July 19, marking the sixth strongest earthquake ever. It was also believed to be the strongest to strike on the entire planet in 14 years, when a 9.1 megaquake hit northeast Japan and left 19,747 people either dead or missing."

A 5.2 magnitude earthquake occurred at 1am local time (5:02am ET) near Nikolski in the Aleutian Islands. USGS estimated a 60 percent chance of an aftershock magnitude 3 or greater within a week and a two percent chance of another magnitude 5 or greater. A 4.8 magnitude event followed less than two hours later. The quake depth measured 6.2 miles, which typically produces stronger surface shaking than deeper events. Nikolski is uninhabited and no shaking reports were submitted. The Aleutian megathrust subduction zone, where the Pacific Plate dives beneath the North American Plate, produced the activity, and officials monitored tsunami risk.

Read at Mail Online