9.2

March 27, 1964 - At 5:36 PM on this day, Alaska was struck by a massive quake measuring 9.2 on the Richter scale.

The area around Anchorage and Valdez shook relentlessly for almost 5 minutes, forcing the ground to rise 30 feet in some places and to drop 8 feet in others.

131 people were killed by falling debris, tsunami waves and giant cracks that opened up and swallowed homes.

It was the most powerful earthquake ever recorded in North America.

Damage was caused as far away as Hawaii.