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5.0-magnitude earthquake hits US state of Alaska

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-08-20 03:53

SAN FRANCISCO: A moderate earthquake with preliminary magnitude of 5.0 rocked southern regions in the US state of Alaska Wednesday morning with no immediate report of casualties or damages.

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The earthquake occurred at 10:19 am local time and was located about 50 kilometers west of Alaska's largest city Anchorage, the Alaska Earthquake Information Center said in a statement.

According to the center, the event was felt widely in southern regions in Alaska. It was reported that the earthquake has rattled buildings in Anchorage.

The center noted that "no reports of this event causing damage have been received at this time."

"The magnitude is such that a tsunami will not be generated," the West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center said in an announcement.