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Unalaska jostled by magnitude 5.6 earthquake, scientists say no cause for alarm

Caption
Alaska Earthquake Center
Nearby volcanoes Makushin and Okmok are unlikely to be affected by the quake, an expert said.

A magnitude 5.6 earthquake struck about 58 miles southwest of Unalaska Sunday afternoon. While many locals felt the event, including in Nikolski and Akutan, there is no current threat of a tsunami or cause for concern.

Alaska Volcano Observatory geophysicist John Power said the quake, which hit at 1:39 p.m., isn’t a likely precursor to another seismic event. Power noted that the quake was quite deep. The Alaska Earthquake Center currently estimates the event’s depth at 24.1 miles. Deep earthquakes don’t usually bring a lot of aftershocks, Power said.

“We see earthquakes like this very, very frequently in the Aleutian chain,” he said. “This one’s pretty big, but not unusually big.”

Initial calculations on magnitude, location and depth are subject to change as researchers refine their data.

Power noted that nearby volcanoes Makushin and Okmok are unlikely to be affected by the quake.

To report any seismic activity you felt, head to the United States Geological Survey website. For more information on earthquake preparedness, visit the Alaska Earthquake Center's website.

Born and raised in Raleigh, North Carolina, Andy Lusk is a writer, travel enthusiast and seafood aficionado who won the jackpot by landing in Unalaska/Dutch Harbor. When he's not hiking or working on his latest story, you can find him curled up with his cats and a good book. Andy is a Report for America corps member and an alumnus of New York University.
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