Magnitude-6.8 natural disaster hit southern Alaska — Federal agency

But some 4800 customers were without power in the Kenai Peninsula, said the Homer Electric Association.

Four homes were lost to explosions or fire following the quake.

Prior says there were no injuries. The pictures on the walls started moving, but there was no damage to his house and no one was hurt, said Barta, 55. Residents are still waiting to get back into their homes as utility workers examine the area and establish temporary lines if necessary.

Monica Gokey of Alaska Public Media reports that residents from Fairbanks to Juneau posted on social media that they felt the quake. There was a gas leak that apparently led to the explosion of one home in Kenai (KEY’-nigh), where there was also some road damage in one area. The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities closed the northbound lane Sunday morning and plans to begin fix work today.

The U.S. Geological Survey on its website lists the temblor at magnitude 7.1.

A strong natural disaster struck Alaska, according to the United States Geological Survey. Aftershocks continue throughout Sunday and may persist for weeks.

“When it hit, it was just soft at first, and it just kept getting bigger”, said Joshua Veldstra of Homer, who said the quake lasted about 30 seconds, reports NBC News.

The epicenter was some 80 km deep near Cook Inlet, about 260 km southwest of Anchorage, the largest city in the northernmost US state, where some residents were awakened by the shaking of the ground lasting 30 to 45 seconds. Kenai-area stores are also donating goods to help those taking shelter at the armory while The Red Cross is at the shelter assisting evacuees. An officer quickly extinguished the fire in the house but flames could be seen under a wall. There were no reports of injuries. Their worries were further amplified by the fact that Alaska is a region which is prone to earthquakes.

Despite the number of smaller earthquakes that have been reported throughout the Pacific Northwest, including a 4.5-magnitude quake near Vancouver Island on January 19, the seismologist described it as normal activity. But there were no immediate reports of injuries.