Magnitude-7.1 quake jolts Alaska; 4 homes lost

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A magnitude-7.1 quake knocked items off shelves and walls in Alaska, jolting the nerves of residents in this earthquake-prone region.

There were no reports of injuries, but four homes were lost to explosions or fire following the quake.

[...] the Anchorage and Valdez police departments said they hadn't received any reports of injury or significant damage.

Two homes in Kenai were destroyed in gas leak explosions and the other two were fully engulfed before firefighters determined it was safe enough from gas for them to enter the homes, Kenai battalion chief Tony Prior said.

Workers with the gas utility were examining the remaining homes Sunday afternoon with the goal of getting displaced residents back in their homes later in the day.

There were reports of scattered power outages from the Matanuska Electric Association and Chugach Electric in the Anchorage area.

The Alaska Department of Transportation reported on its Facebook page that there was road damage near the community of Kasilof, on the Kenai Peninsula.

Later, he was driving to his mother's home when he came across a stretch of road that was damaged in the quake.