On March 27, 1964, the massive Good Friday earthquake killed 133 people and destroyed several villages and portions of large coastal communities, mainly by the resultant tsunamis and landslides. It was the second-most-powerful earthquake in the recorded history of the world, with a moment magnitude of 9.2. It was over one thousand times more powerful than the 1989 San Francisco earthquake. The time of day (5:36 pm), time of year and location of the epicenter were all cited as factors in potentially sparing thousands of lives, particularly in Anchorage.
What major event happened in Alaska on March 27, 1964 killing 133 people? Did the earthquake or resulting tsunamis and landslides do the most damage to Alaskan communities? How did the Good Friday earthquake compare to other documented earthquakes in the world? Which factors concerning the Good Friday earthquake do some believe caused a higher survival rate? How did the Good Friday earthquake compare to the 1989 San Francisco earthquake?