Alaska Earthquake: Anchorage Rocked by Tremors, Volcanoes Persist

Big Lake, Alaska, Hit by 5.8-Magnitude Quake

A powerful earthquake struck Southcentral Alaska early Saturday morning, jolting residents and triggering landslides in the Big Lake area. The quake, with a preliminary magnitude of 5.8, occurred at 12:56 AM Alaska Standard Time, according to the Alaska Earthquake Center. The epicenter was located approximately 60 miles north of Anchorage, near the community of Big Lake.

Reports indicate that the earthquake caused widespread shaking throughout the region, with strong tremors felt as far away as Anchorage. The quake was followed by several aftershocks, including one with a magnitude of 4.2. There were no immediate reports of serious injuries or significant damage to infrastructure, but power outages and landslides were reported in some areas.

Volcanic Activity Increases in Alaska

The earthquake follows a period of heightened volcanic activity in Alaska. According to VolcanoDiscovery (VolcanoDiscovery GmbH), a volcano monitoring group, several volcanoes in the region have shown signs of increased activity in recent days.

Pavlof Volcano

Pavlof Volcano, located on the Alaska Peninsula, erupted on Friday, releasing a plume of ash and steam that reached an altitude of 20,000 feet. The eruption was relatively minor, and no ashfall has been reported outside of the immediate vicinity of the volcano.

Cleveland Volcano

Cleveland Volcano, also located on the Alaska Peninsula, has been showing signs of unrest since October 2022. The volcano has produced numerous small earthquakes and steam explosions, and it is possible that a larger eruption could occur in the coming weeks or months.

Redoubt Volcano

Redoubt Volcano, located on the southern coast of Alaska, is currently under an orange alert level, indicating that an eruption is possible within the next 24 hours. The volcano has been showing increased seismic activity and ground deformation, suggesting that magma is moving beneath the surface.