6.2 earthquake knocks items off shelves in Alaska; no tsunami expected

A magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck south-central Alaska on Thursday, shaking up people in Anchorage, but not forcefully enough to cause major damage or injuries, authorities said.

The quake, which hit at 9:51 a.m. Alaska time, was centered about 80 miles northwest of Anchorage. The U.S. Geological Survey estimated the shaking to be moderate, resulting in very light damage, but some people close to the epicenter reported what they considered strong shaking.

At the headquarters of the Anchorage Police Department, officers described prolonged shaking.

“It was strong. I’ve lived here all my life. This one felt very long. It was very drawn out,” said Anchorage police spokeswoman Jennifer Castro.

But most 911 calls were for home alarms that went off. “We don’t have any official reports of any major damage or injuries at this time,” Castro said.

On Twitter, Kikkan Randall, the cross-country skier who competed in the 2014 Winter Olympics, tweeted from Anchorage: “Quite an earthquake this am in AK! Shook for over a minute, all the picture frames on the floor but the globe is ok!”

Twitter: @ronlin