Earthquake Rocks Alaska

An earthquake of magnitude 5.2 struck south-central Alaska a little after 11 a.m. local time, according to the West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center in Palmer, Alaska

The Center said that the earthquake will not produce a tsunami, nor were there any reports of damage.

The quake’s epicenter was nine miles east-northeast of the town of Nikiski and it was 30 miles below the ground, according to tsunami program manager for Alaska, Cindi Preller.

"It woke us all up," she told the Anchorage Daily News. "Who needs coffee? "I'm about to call Nikiski and make sure they're OK.”

The quake struck 50 miles southwest of Alaska’s largest city, Anchorage.

The Alaska Earthquake Information Center said the quake was widely felt in the Kenai Peninsula and Cook Inlet regions, with the most powerful shaking hitting the Peninsula communities of Sterling and Soldotna.

Three moderate quakes, two 5.1 magnitude quakes and a 5.2 magnitude quake, followed at 8.06PM. At least three earth tremors measuring 2-3 magnitude were recorded in the same area five minutes later.

The Alaska Earthquake Information Center said the event was widely felt in the Kenai Peninsula and Cook Inlet regions. The strongest shaking was experienced in the Peninsula communities of Sterling and Soldotna.