6.9 Quake Rocks Aleutian Islands

June 23, 2003
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

TOKYO (AP) - A strong earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.9 shook the Aleutian Islands between Japan's northernmost islands and mainland Alaska on Monday, officials said.

The quake was centered about 19 miles under the seabed in Alaska's Aleutian Islands, about 1,550 miles northeast of Japan's northernmost main island of Hokkaido, Japan's Meteorological Agency said. It struck around 11:10 p.m. Japan time Monday.

There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries. The agency said there was no danger of tsunami, powerful ocean waves caused by seismic activity.

The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said the earthquake occurred 65 miles southeast of Buldir Island and 290 miles west of Adak, both in southern Alaska.

An earthquake of magnitude 7 can cause widespread damage if centered in populated areas.

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