How many people died from the Alaskan tsunami?
James Stevens
Updated on March 02, 2026
5
1958 Lituya Bay earthquake and megatsunami
| Anchorage | |
|---|---|
| UTC time | 1958-07-10 06:15:58 |
| Max. intensity | XI (Extreme) |
| Tsunami | 524 m (1,720 ft) runup |
| Casualties | 5 |
How many people died in the 9.2 earthquake in Alaska?
131 deaths
The Good Friday Earthquake (also called the Great Alaska Earthquake) of March 27, 1964, was the most powerful earthquake in U.S. history. The magnitude 9.2 earthquake, which resulted in 131 deaths, was centered in Prince William Sound off the coast of South Central Alaska.
Who died in the 1964 Alaska earthquake?
| Alexandroff, Chief Simeon “Simmie” | 1937-1964 |
|---|---|
| Baker, Clayton James | 1918-1964 b. Montana |
| Barnes, David George | 1934-1964 born: South Dakota |
| Barnes, Micki Lee Barnes, Ricki Dean Barnes, Vicki Lurree | 1959-1964 1960-1964 1958 1964 |
| Bledsoe, Clarence Paul | 1920-1964 b. Wash. |
How long did the 1964 tsunami last?
four minutes and 38 seconds
It lasted four minutes and 38 seconds. 131 people died in the earthquake and ensuing tsunami’s (USGS, 2012). The epicentre of the earthquake was 125 kilometres east of Anchorage, Alaska, where many inadequately engineered houses, buildings and infrastructure were damaged or destroyed.
What was the population of Anchorage Alaska in 1964?
100,000
In 1964, the city of Anchorage had a population of 100,000. The major damage to Anchorage was centered in parts of the downtown business district and a residential area called Turnagain Heights.
What caused the most deaths in the Great Alaska earthquake of 1964?
Much of the damage and most of the lives lost were due to the effects of water waves. These were mainly of two kinds: the tsunami of open-ocean sea wave, generated by large-scale motion of the sea floor; and the local wave, generated by underwater landslides in bays of fiords.
How far away could the 1964 Alaska earthquake be felt?
The earthquake was felt throughout most of mainland Alaska, as far west as Dutch Harbor in the Aleutian Islands some 480 miles away, and at Seattle, Washington, more than 1,200 miles to the southeast of the fault rupture, where the Space Needle swayed perceptibly.
When was the Good Friday earthquake in Alaska?
March 27, 1964
1964 Alaska earthquake/Start dates
At 5:36 p.m. on Good Friday, March 27, 1964, a great earthquake with a Richter n:a_gnitude of 8.4 to 8.6 crippled south-central Alaska.
When was the last tsunami in Alaska?
Today, in 2021, nearly 75% of the state’s population was born after the last significant tsunami to strike Alaska, in the Aleutian Islands in 1965. Scientists have expressed concern about complacency.
What was the damage in Alaska in 1964?
On March 27, 1964 (UTC) at 5:36 p.m. local time, the largest recorded earthquake in U.S. history struck Alaska’s Prince William Sound. The devastating 9.2 magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunamis ravaged coastal communities and took over 139 lives.
Why does Alaska have so many earthquakes?
Related Questions More Answers Below. Alaska has a lot of earthquakes because its entire southern boundary is a subduction zone. The stress and friction caused by a plate being stuffed under another plate causes these earthquakes.
What was the magnitude of the earthquake in Alaska 1964?
The 1964 Alaska Earthquake, also known as the Great Alaska Earthquake and the Good Friday Earthquake, was a megathrust quake that began at 5:36 P.M. AST on March 27, 1964. It had a moment magnitude of 9.2, making it the second largest earthquake on record.