State Watch

5.3 magnitude earthquake shakes Alaska

There was a 5.3 magnitude earthquake in Point MacKenzie, Alaska, on Saturday that was felt by thousands in the state. 

The area is used to earthquakes, but they are not normally of this magnitude, an official with the National Earthquake Information Center told The Hill. 

There have been 2,794 people so far who have filed a “felt report” to the United States Geological Survey, according to data from its site. 

It is not clear if anyone has been injured from the earthquake.

Officials say there is no threat of a tsunami, but there is the potential for aftershocks around the region. 

Reports of those who felt the earthquake have come from Point MacKenzie, Anchorage, Eagle River, Knik-Fairview and Whitehorse.

This earthquake follows a 7.1 magnitude earthquake that hit Japan earlier this month. No tsunami occurred from the Japan earthquake either.