1964 Alaska earthquake

Known also as the Great Alaska earthquake and the Good Friday earthquake, it occurred at 5:36pm AKST on 27 March 1964, with its epicentre 20 km north of Prince William Sound, 126 km east of Anchorage and 64 km west of Valdez. Ground fissures, collapsing structures and tsunamis across south-central Alaska caused about 139 deaths, including 32 at Port Valdez, where an underwater landslide took the city harbour, the docks and a ship moored there. Tectonic uplift and subsidence reshaped south-central Alaska.

Origin time (UTC)

1964-03-28T03:36

Magnitude

9.2

Magnitude type

mw

Depth (km)

25

Deaths, as sources state them

about 139, including 32 at Port Valdez

USGS event page

earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/eventpage/official19640328033616_30

Category: Disasters & Incidents

Tags: megathrust, tsunami, alaska, prince-william-sound, landslide

Coordinates: 60.908, -147.339

Part of Earthquakes of magnitude 8.5 and above since 1900

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