The Latest: Fire, blasts claim 4 homes after Alaska quake

Four homes have been destroyed in natural gas explosions or fire following a magnitude 7.1 earthquake in southern Alaska.

Kenai (KEY'-nigh) Fire Department battalion chief Tony Prior says explosions from a natural gas leak destroyed two of the homes.

The fire department focused on keeping the fires in these two homes from spreading to nearby houses.

Workers with the gas utility are examining the remaining homes to determine if the earthquake severed gas lines to the homes and are establishing temporary lines with the hope displaced residents can get back home today.

Walker also says the quake serves as a reminder for people to be prepared for a natural disaster.

Thirty homes that have been evacuated as firefighters, policemen and gas utility workers continue to work on the gas leak that followed a magnitude 6.8 earthquake early Sunday morning.

Sandahl says all firefighters and utility workers were accounted for, and there's been no reports of injury.

A magnitude-6.8 earthquake struck early Sunday knocked items off shelves and walls in south-central Alaska and jolted the nerves of residents in this earthquake-prone region.