7.0-Magnitude Earthquake Shakes Remote Alaska–Canada Border Region

A strong 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck a mountainous and sparsely populated region along the border between the US state of Alaska and Canada’s Yukon territory on Saturday, seismologists said.

The quake occurred at 2041 GMT and was followed by more than 30 aftershocks over the next three hours, ranging in magnitude from 5.1 to 3.3, according to the US Geological Survey.

The epicentre was located about 155 miles (248 kilometres) west of Whitehorse, the capital of Canada’s Yukon, and around 230 miles northwest of Alaska’s capital, Juneau.

In Yakutat, Alaska, close to the epicentre, police chief Theo Capes told AFP that no injuries or damage had been reported. He said the earthquake “lasted surprisingly long, 15 to 20 seconds”.

The US Tsunami Warning System said there was no tsunami threat.

Khaborwala/SS