Department of Foreign Affairs monitors Filipinos in Alaska amid strong quake
December 01, 2018
People walk past a crack in the road after an earthquake near Northwoods on the Kenai Spur Highway in Kenai, Alaska on November 30, 2018. A powerful earthquake rocked Anchorage, violently shaking homes and businesses in Alaska's largest city and knocking out power to some residents.The 7.0 magnitude quake was located about eight miles (13 kilometers) north of Anchorage and struck at 8:29 am local time (1729 GMT), the US Geological Survey said. AFP PHOTO /HO/ Caroline HUBER
THE Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) is monitoring the situation in Alaska even as no Filipino was among those initially reported to have been injured in the magnitude 7.0 earthquake that struck Anchorage Friday morning.
The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco, which has jurisdiction over Alaska, is also in touch with leaders of the Filipino community in Anchorage.
The Consulate General has also requested the Office of Foreign Missions of the Department of State for information on Filipinos impacted by the earthquake.
According to Consul General Henry Bensurto, there are more than 25,000 members of the Filipino community in Alaska.
He said Filipinos make up 52 percent of Alaska’s Asian and Pacific Islander population and represented the largest racial minority in Anchorage.
Bensurto said the earthquake struck at 7.5 miles north of the city around 8:30 a.m. local time.
The tremor caused damage to homes, buildings and other infrastructure.
Bensurto said the Consulate General has also advised the Filipino community to brace for more aftershocks and to stay in safe shelters and avoid unnecessary road travel.