UNITED STATES: On Sunday at 06:48 UTC, a powerful earthquake with a magnitude of M7.2 (previously reported as M7.4) struck near the shore of the Alaska Peninsula in the United States.
According to reports, the earthquake had a depth of 32.6 kilometers (20.2 miles), although EMSC reported it as M7.4 with a depth of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles).
The epicenter of the earthquake was located in Alaska, approximately 98.7 kilometers south of Sand Point and 984 kilometers southwest of Anchorage.
As a precautionary measure, a tsunami warning has been issued for the Pacific beaches of South Alaska and the Alaska Peninsula, spanning from Chignik Bay to Unimak Pass.
However, the NWS NTWC has confirmed that there is no tsunami concern for other Pacific coasts in North America, including the US and Canada.
It is estimated that approximately 2000 individuals experienced severe shaking, while 1000 experienced mild shaking. Fortunately, the USGS has issued a Green alert, indicating that there is little chance of fatalities or significant property damage resulting from the shaking.
While there are some vulnerable structures in the affected area, the majority of the population resides in buildings that are designed to withstand earthquake shaking.
However, it is important to note that unreinforced brick masonry and reinforced masonry constructions are considered to be the most at-risk building types.
The USGS has predicted an 86% chance of at least one destructive aftershock with a magnitude greater than 5, along with fewer aftershocks measuring up to 3,300 M3.
Over time, the frequency of aftershocks is expected to decline, although the occurrence of a significant aftershock may temporarily increase activity. The forecast encompasses the area affected by the initial earthquake as well as its aftershocks.
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