Earthquake Shakes Central Alaska

The site of the Tanana Commercial Company general store, 100 Front Street, Tanana, Alaska. Cynthia Erickson and her husband live above the store. (Bing Maps screenshot)

A magnitude 5.3 earthquake shook central Alaska around 9 a.m. local time on Oct. 27.

The quake was centered 13 miles east of the city of Tanana and 120 miles west of Fairbanks.

Tanana resident Cynthia Erickson told the Anchorage Daily News, her house shook like an “off-balance washing machine.”

“It was really erratic and really hard shaking, oh man! I started screaming to my husband,” she said.

“I was like, ‘Earthquake! Call the kids!’ “

According to the Alaska Earthquake Center, the tremors were felt in Fairbanks, Manley Hot Springs, and the North Pole.

Just One Temblor

According to the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, there were two nearly simultaneous earthquakes initially reported.

Apparently, the reports of a double quake were the result of a malfunction at the Alaska Earthquake Center.

The Earthquake Center was quick to take responsibility for the error.

No Damage Done

So far there have been no reports of serious structural damage.

That is not to say the quake did not damage.

Cynthia Erikson said that the quake knocked the merchandise off the shelves of the Tanana Commercial Company, a general store she runs with her husband.

“I’m running around and things are falling off the wall,” she said. The aisles of the store were full, while the shelves were empty.

“When I open the store (at noon), everyone will be yacking away about what happened,” said Erickson.

From NTD.tv