Publish dateSaturday 1 December 2018 - 07:46
Story Code : 175025
Alaska hit by powerful earthquake, buildings damaged
A powerful earthquake rocked Anchorage on Friday, violently shaking homes and businesses, sending scared residents into the streets and damaging buildings in Alaska's largest city.
AVA- The 7.0-magnitude quake struck at 8:29 am local time (1729 GMT), in the middle of the school run and as workers were heading out for the day.
The US Geological Survey said the epicenter was about eight miles (13 kilometers) north of Anchorage at a depth of 25 miles.
Police in the city of around 300,000 said it had caused "major infrastructure damage."
"Many homes and buildings are damaged," the police department said in a statement. "Many roads and bridges are closed. Stay off the roads if you don't need to drive."
There were no immediate reports of significant injuries.
Governor Bill Walker said he had issued a disaster declaration. Besides widespread damage, the earthquake disrupted some communications and electrical service, the state’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management said.
A tsunami warning was issued for the Cook Inlet and the Kenai Peninsula following the massive quake but was quickly lifted.
Residents posted pictures and videos to Twitter of damage to their homes and stores -- belongings knocked off of shelves, broken windows and pictures scattered on the floor.
Local CBS affiliate KTVA posted a video of a room shaking back and forth with panels falling from the ceiling and lights flickering on and off as people hid under desks.
"Everyone just sprinted out of the coffee shop I was at in Anchorage in the middle of a huge earthquake," Nat Herz, a reporter with news portal Alaska's Energy Desk, posted on Twitter.
"Car alarms going off, etc. But not seeing any serious damage here aside from random stuff falling over. People going back to computers, meetings," he added.
Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski said the authorities were worried about access to power following the quake.
"It's winter. It's cold. It's dark. And we're not sure what the power situation is," Murkowski said. "We're worried about breaks in gas lines."
Former Alaska governor and vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin tweeted, saying her family is intact but her "house is not."  
White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said President Donald Trump had been briefed about the quake and was monitoring damage reports.
"To the Great people of Alaska. You have been hit hard by a 'big one,'" Trump tweeted. "Your Federal Government will spare no expense. God Bless you ALL!"
 
 
 
https://avapress.com/vdcj8ieviuqeayz.92fu.html
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