2018 Anchorage earthquake facts for kids
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 Location in Alaska
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| UTC time | 2018-11-30 17:29:29 |
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| ISC event | 614401515 |
| USGS-ANSS | ComCat |
| Local date | November 30, 2018 |
| Local time | 08:29:28 AKST |
| Magnitude | 7.1 Mww |
| Depth | 46.7 km (29.0 mi) |
| Epicenter | 61°20′46″N 149°57′18″W / 61.346°N 149.955°W |
| Type | Dip-slip (normal) |
| Areas affected | Alaska |
| Max. intensity | VIII (Severe) |
On November 30, 2018, a strong earthquake shook Anchorage, Alaska. It happened at 8:29 AM local time (AKST). The earthquake was very powerful, measuring a magnitude of 7.0.
The center of the earthquake, called the epicenter, was about 10 miles (16 km) north of Anchorage. It was near a place called Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson. People in Fairbanks, which is quite far away, could even feel the ground shaking!
What Happened?
The Big Shake
The earthquake was a "dip-slip (normal)" type. This means the ground moved up and down along a crack in the Earth's crust, called a fault. The shaking was so strong that it was rated as "Severe" on the Mercalli intensity scale.
Aftershocks and Warnings
After the main earthquake, there were many smaller shakes called aftershocks. One strong aftershock measured 5.7 magnitude. It hit just 2.5 miles (4.0 km) north-northwest of Anchorage. In total, there were 40 aftershocks.
Because of the earthquake, a tsunami warning was sent out for coastal areas nearby. This included places like Cook Inlet and the Kenai Peninsula. Luckily, the warning was lifted soon after, as no big tsunami happened.
What Was the Damage?
The earthquake caused a lot of damage to buildings and roads. A highway overpass near Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport was badly damaged. Many other buildings also had severe damage.
Even with all the strong shaking and damage, no one was reported to have died. This was good news for the people of Alaska.
Images for kids
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This map shows how strong the shaking was in different areas.
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Here you can see damage to a road near Palmer after the earthquake.
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This picture shows damage to Vine Road in Wasilla.
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