On this day in 1964, the strongest earthquake in American
history, measuring 9.2 on the Richter scale, hit southern
Alaska, creating a deadly tsunami. Some 131 people were
killed and thousands injured.

The massive earthquake had its epicenter about 12 miles
north of Prince William Sound. Approximately 300,000 s
quare miles of U.S., Canadian, and international territory
were affected.

Anchorage, Alaska’s largest city, sustained the most
property damage, with about 30 blocks of dwellings
and commercial buildings damaged or destroyed in
the downtown area. Fifteen people were killed or
fatally injured as a direct result of the three-minute
quake, and then the ensuing tsunami killed another
110 people.