A large 6.2 magnitude startled residents in the south central region of Alaska today when it began what seemed like minutes-long shaking at 9:51 am on Thursday.

The quake, felt as far north as Fairbanks and throughout the Kenai Peninsula, and even Kodiak,  occurred just 80 miles to the northwest of Anchorage. The quake knocked items from shelves and walls, and in some instances toppled bookshelves and other unsecured furniture over in the south central region.

The long rolling quake caused many in Anchorage to attempt to seek shelter and to move to safer areas. Residents moved outdoors and other locations such as the Nesbitt Courthouse and other public buildings were evacuated.

The earthquake, that originated at a depth of 63.9 miles beneath the surface occurred in what is the eastern portion of the Aleutian Arc. This is the region where the Pacific Plate subducts beneath the North American plate. It is this very same Pacific Plate that is responsible for the creation of the entire Aleutian Chain to thee west.

Because of the relative depth of today’s shaker, seismologists do not believe that there will be quite as many aftershocks to the event that would normally occur if the earthquake had been generated at a shallower depth.

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