Alaska shaken by powerful 7 magnitude earthquake

On Saturday, December 6, Alaska experienced a significant earthquake measuring 7.0 on the moment magnitude scale, as reported by the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The epicenter was located northeast of Yakutat, Alaska.

Yakutat, a small community with a population of approximately 657 in 2020 and 332 housing units in 2023, felt the tremors, though the quake was also detected over 300 miles away in Anchorage, according to the USGS interactive map.

Magnitude is a measure of an earthquake's energy release. Known as the moment magnitude scale, it is logarithmic, meaning each whole number increase represents roughly ten times the strength of the previous number. For instance, a 5.0 earthquake releases ten times more energy than a 4.0.

Michigan Technological University classifies earthquakes by magnitude and potential damage as follows:

• Below 2.5: Generally not felt
• 2.5 to 5.4: Minor or no damage
• 5.5 to 6.0: Slight damage to buildings
• 6.1 to 6.9: Serious damage
• 7.0 to 7.9: Major earthquake causing serious damage
• 8.0 and above: Catastrophic, potentially destroying communities

This recent 7.0 magnitude event classifies as a major earthquake, capable of causing serious damage in affected areas.

Author: Ava Mitchell