Bulletin: On Earthquake in Alaska

01 December 2018 – The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is monitoring the situation in Alaska after a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Anchorage on Friday morning.

The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco, which has jurisdiction over Alaska, is also in touch with leaders of the Filipino Community in Anchorage who reported that no Filipino was among those initially reported to have been injured in the earthquake. The Consulate General has also requested the Office of Foreign Missions of the Department of State for information on Filipinos impacted by the earthquake.

According to Consul General Henry Bensurto, there are more than 25,000 members of the Filipino Community in Alaska. He said Filipinos make up 52 percent of Alaska’s Asian and Pacific Islander population and represented the largest racial minority in Anchorage.

Consul General Bensurto said the earthquake struck an area 7.5 miles north of the city at around 8:30 a.m. local time. The tremor caused damage to homes and buildings and other infrastructure.

Consul General Bensurto said the Consulate General has also advised the Filipino Community to brace for more aftershocks and to stay in safe shelters and avoid unnecessary road travel. END