Alaska Officials Say Earthquake Damage Inspected

January 9, 2013

Juneau, Alaska, officials say the powerful earthquake that struck southeast Alaska late Friday night was possibly to blame for damage to a sewer line and two water valves.

KINY says mainline sewer pipe at Mendenhall Loop and Back Loop Road collapsed and backed up.

Public works director Kirk Duncan says a Mendenhall Valley water valve blew up, and is probably earthquake related. He says a Douglas Island water valve also was reportedly damaged.

Fire Chief Rich Etheridge says existing cracks at a downtown station opened wider.

Also, an exterior wall at the fire training center developed a large crack behind the fuel tank.

The 7.5 magnitude earthquake prompted a tsunami warning for Alaska and Canada coastlines and several aftershocks.

The tsunami warning was canceled when no damaging waves were generated.