The time of day (5:36 pm), time of year (spring) and location of the epicenter were all cited as factors in potentially sparing thousands of lives, particularly in Anchorage.
ðə tˈaɪm ʌv dˈeɪ fˈaɪv:θˈɜːɾi sˈɪks pˌiːˈɛm, tˈaɪm ʌv jˈɪɹ spɹˈɪŋ ænd loʊkˈeɪʃən ʌvðɪ ˈɛpɪsˌɛntɚ wɜːɹ ˈɔːl sˈaɪɾᵻd æz fˈæktɚz ɪn pətˈɛnʃəli spˈɛɹɪŋ θˈaʊzəndz ʌv lˈaɪvz, pɚtˈɪkjʊlɚli ɪn ˈæŋkɚɹɪdʒ.