M4.3 earthquake hits Cleveland volcano just a few hours before the anniversary of the Great Earthquake of Alaska

A M4.3 earthquake hit 5 miles E of Mt. Cleveland in Alaska. Yesterday’s quake is associated with volcanic unrest and represents a significant departure from background earthquake activity… The unrest could result in a future eruption, according to AVO.

But is it a sign that this earthquake hit just a few hours before the anniversary of the Great Alaska Earthquake of March 27, 1964?

March 27, 1964 – The Great Alaska Earthquake

On a day like today, March 27, 1964, (a Good Friday) at 5:36 p.m. Alaska time a powerful 9,2 magnitude earthquake struck the Prince William Sound region of Alaska. The epicenter went about 10 km east of the mouth of College Fiord, 90 km west of Valdez and 120 km east from Anchorage.

With four minutes and thirty-eight seconds, the mega-push earthquake remains the most powerful earthquake recorded in North American history and the second most powerful earthquakes recorded in world history.

Six hundred miles (970 km) of fault broke down at once and moved up to 60 feet (18 m), releasing approximately 500 years of tension buildup.

Liquefaction of soil, fissures, landslides and other soil failures caused major structural damage to several communities and many property damage.

Two hundred miles (320 km) southwest, some areas close to Kodiak rose to 30 feet (9 m), while southeast of Anchorage, areas around the Turnagain Arm headboard near Girdwood and Portage They sank up to 8 feet (2,4 m), which required rebuilding and filling to lift the Seward Highway above the new high tide mark.

Port Valdez suffered a massive landslide underwater, causing the deaths of 32 people between the port collapse and the docks of Valdez City, and inside a boat that was docked there at the time.

A massive 27 foot (8,2 m) tsunami destroyed the village of Chenega and killed 23 of the 68 people who lived there. Post-earthquake tsunamis severely affected Whittier, Seward, Kodiak and other Alaskan communities as well as individuals and properties in British Columbia, Washington, Oregon and California. Tsunamis also caused damage in Hawaii and Japan.

In total, 139 people died, of which 124 went directly from the tsunamis.

The earthquake and subsequent tsunamis caused damage worth about $ 2.300 million (equivalent to $ 311 million in 1964). [Facebook]

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