Rural Alaska

Magnitude 5.3 earthquake shakes remote part of northwest Alaska

An earthquake with a reviewed magnitude of 5.3 shook a remote part of northwest Alaska late Thursday afternoon, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The quake at 4:58 p.m. was centered about 41 miles south of Shungnak and 5.9 miles deep, according to the Alaska Earthquake Center, which reported a differing magnitude of 5.4.

The center said on Twitter that the quake was part of the Purcell Mountains swarm, which “has been active since February.”

Shaking was felt in Huslia and Shungnak, according to reports on the USGS website. Several aftershocks of a smaller magnitude were reported after the quake.

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