Alexandra Gutierrez, KUCB – Unalaska
A 6.7 magnitude earthquake struck in the Fox Islands region of the Aleutians on Saturday night. The earthquake occurred hit about 40 miles from Nikolski, and was felt as far away as Kodiak.
According to the Alaska Earthquake Information Center, the initial earthquake happened 21 miles below the sea bed, and at least 20 aftershocks with magnitudes higher than four have hit since Saturday night. The strongest of these was a 5.8 magnitude aftershock that was felt in Nikolski around noon on Sunday. Natasha Rupert, a seismologist with the center, says that the aftershocks aren’t over yet.
For a 6.7 magnitude earthquake, the effect has been negligible. No tsunami hit in the aftermath of the quake, and no injuries related to the earthquake have been reported. While phones are down in Nikolski, there also hasn’t been word of any permanent damage according to Cindi Preller at the Alaska Tsunami Warning Center
If the earthquake didn’t cause much harm to Nikolski, it caused even less to Unalaska, where about a dozen people reported feeling the earthquake to local police. Jamie Sunderland is director of public safety.
The last time a major earthquake hit the region was October, when a 6.5 magnitude earthquake struck about 75 miles away from Nikolski.
Download Audio (MP3)
