Today in History

March 27, 1964

Great Alaska Earthquake

On March 27th, 1964, it was business as usual in the city of Anchorage, Alaska. At 5:36:14 p.m. local time, the ground began shaking violently. The ensuing 9.2 magnitude earthquake remains one of the most devastating on record. The earthquake and following tsunami took 128 lives (tsunami 113, earthquake 15), and caused about $311 million in property loss.

Anchorage, about 120 kilometers northwest of the epicenter, sustained the most severe property damage; about 30 blocks of dwellings and commercial buildings were damaged or destroyed in the downtown area. Landslides in Anchorage caused heavy damage in the downtown business section. The largest and most devastating landslide occurred at Turnagain Heights. An area of about 130 acres was devastated by displacements that broke the ground into many jagged blocks that were collapsed and tilted at all angles. This slide destroyed about 75 private houses. Water mains and gas, sewer, telephone, and electrical systems were disrupted throughout the area.

Seiche action (waves) caused by the earthquake in rivers, lakes, bayous, and protected harbors and waterways along the Gulf Coast of Louisiana and Texas caused minor damage and were was also recorded on tide gages in places as far away as Cuba and Puerto Rico.

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