Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Yukon earthquake: Powerful 6.2-magnitude quake hits close to Alaska

Hundreds of reports of people feeling the shaking have come in

Frank McGurty
Monday 01 May 2017 15:22 BST
Comments
Kaskawulsh Glacier, Yukon, Canada, close to the epicentre of the quake
Kaskawulsh Glacier, Yukon, Canada, close to the epicentre of the quake (AFP)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

A powerful earthquake has been felt in western Canada close to the border with Alaska.

The quake, which the United States Geological Survey (USGS) said measured 6.2 in magnitude on the Richter scale, struck early on Monday.

The temblor, hit northwest of Mosquito Lake, a hamlet with a population of about 300 that lies 55 miles west-northwest of Skagway, Alaska, the USGS said on its website. Soon after it struck, the USGS made a preliminary estimate of 6.5.

At least three aftershocks have been recorded, geophysicist Amy Vaughan told the Associated Press, and Ms Vaughan expected more.

She said this type of quake has the potential to cause damage but that the location dropped the chances of major problems. Vaughan says it would have jarred people awake and knocked items off shelves.

Jaimie Lawson, a dispatcher with the Skagway Police Department, says the remote town hadn't received calls about damage or injuries.

The geological survey website has recorded hundreds of reports of people feeling the shaking from the quake, one of more than 13,000 recorded in Alaska this year, according the Alaska Earthquake Center.

Reuters

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in