On March 27, 1964, a powerful magnitude 9.2 earthquake struck south-central Alaska. It is the largest earthquake ever recorded in North America. The quake and the tsunamis it triggered caused extensive damage in Anchorage, coastal Alaska, and even parts of the U.S. West Coast. Around 130 people died. The disaster led to major changes in building codes and earthquake research. It also deepened scientific understanding of plate tectonics and subduction zones.
