Strong quake jolts Alaska

A powerful earthquake measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale on Saturday jolted the US state of Alaska, the US Geological Survey reported.

A powerful earthquake measuring 6.1 on the Richter scale on Saturday jolted the US state of Alaska, the US Geological Survey (USGS) reported.

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The earthquake occurred at 9.09 am., with its epicentre some 259 km southwest of Anchorage, Alaska's largest city, and with a depth of 94.5 km, the USGS said on its website.

The West Coast and Alaksa Tsunami Warning Centre, however, confirmed that no tsunami was expected as a result of the quake.

The Anchorage Daily News and other US media said there was no immediate report of casualties or damage.

Historical records show that a massive earthquake of magnitude 9.2 struck Alaska March 27, 1964, the largest one in North America and the second largest ever recorded in the world.

It triggered a tsunami wave that struck the US Pacific coast and killed more than 100 people in Alaska alone.