1964 Alaska Earthquake and Tsunamis

Great Alaskan Earthquake & Tsunamis of 1964

On March 27, 1964, the second largest recorded earthquake in history struck Prince William Sound, Alaska. Measuring 9.2 on the Richter scale, the earthquake killed nine and a further 122 died from the subsequent tsunamis. This event has been referred to as the. "Good Friday Earthquake" and has only been surpassed by the 9.5 quake which struck Chile in 1960. As with the 2011 Japan Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami which measured 9.0 and the equally powerful 2004 Indonesian earthquake and tsunami which was centered off the coast of Sumatra, the majority of casualties were caused by the resulting tsunami and not the initial off-shore earthquake. The much lower death toll in Alaska can be attributed to the Good Friday holiday and the time of day, as schools were closed and most workers had already left for the day.

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