7.0 Earthquake Jolts Westernmost Town in the U.S.

A 7.0 magnitude earthquake rocked a remote region of Alaska Friday morning. No damage or injuries have been reported so far and initial reports indicate there is no danger of tsunami, though officials are continuing to monitor for any tsunami activity which may be caused by landslides either underwater or on ground.

The quake occurred about 8:30 a.m. Alaska time and residents of the villages of Adak and Atka reported feeling strong shaking for about one minute, according to an Associated Press report which cited information from the Alaska Earthquake Information Center.

The U.S. Geological Survey reports the quake was centered 91 km (55 miles) southeast from Adak, at a depth of 34.5km (21.4 miles)

The quake's epicenter was beneath the Andreanof Islands, a group of islands in the Aleutian Island chain which extends southwest off continental Alaska. Seismic activity is common in the region, which is along the boundary of the Pacific and North American tectonic plates. Earthquakes greater than magnitude 3 occur almost daily there. However, Friday's quake was the largest the region has seen recently.

Adak, which has a population of 326 according to the most recent census data, is the westernmost municipality in the United States and southernmost city in Alaska. Atka, about 170km (105 miles) east of Adak, has a population of just 61, according to the 2010 US census.

The population of the islands is almost entirely indigenous Aleut (Unangan) people. The major industry there is fishing.