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**LIVE UPDATES** Alaska Rocked After Major Earthquake Hits Near Anchorage

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A 7.0 magnitude earthquake rocked Alaska on Friday, shaking building in Anchorage and prompting terrified residents to seek shelter under office desks.

**Follow all of the events on the Breitbart News Live Wire below. All times in eastern.**

3:06 PM — Audio of air traffic controllers at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport urging pilots to fly around after earthquake hit Anchorage.

3:02 PM — The Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage says it has canceled elective surgeries and that the hospital experienced multiple water leaks, according to the Associated Press.

The hospital says in a statement that there was not a large influx of patients after the quake rocked Anchorage Tuesday morning.

There were no reports of serious injuries or deaths and there were no reports of injuries at the hospital.

3:00 PM — The operators of the 800-mile long trans-Alaska pipeline said they shut the system down as a precaution following the earthquake in southcentral Alaska, the Associated Press reports.

Michelle Egan is a spokeswoman with Alyeska Pipeline Service Company.

She says there is no known damage to the pipeline.

She says data will be assessed at an operations center and a physical inspection of the line will be performed.

She says pipeline can be restarted before the physical assessment is complete.

2:56 PM — Alaska Air suspends operations in Anchorage.

2:49 PM — Anchorage International Airport is now open and screening passengers.

2:47 PM — Scene from inside Anchorage International Airport as the earthquake hit.

2:46 PM —

2:45 PM —

2:40 PM —

2:39 PM — Additional scenes from inside KTVA’s studios.

2:38 PM — Raw footage of damaged roads in Anchorage.

2:35 PM —

2:30 PM —

The earthquake that shook Anchorage and damaged roadways also knocked many traffic lights out of service and has snarled traffic, per the Associated Press.

Jeremy Zidek, a spokesman for the state’s Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, said the earthquake also disrupted some communications and electrical service.

The Anchorage School District canceled classes for its more than 100 schools and asked parents to pick up their kids when they could.

The district wants to examine its buildings for potential damage and check for any potential gas leaks.

State government offices in Anchorage were also closed so officials could assess the damage.

2:25 PM — The Federal Aviation Administration says operations have stopped at Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport following the earthquake that rocked buildings and damaged roads, reports the Associated Press.

FAA spokesman Allen Kenitzer in Washington state said Friday it’s not known when inbound flights will resume and that travelers should check with their airlines.

Kenitzer and Alaska transportation spokeswoman Meadow Bailey say telephone service is out at the airport.

The FAA spokesman says the airport tower was evacuated and flights that could be diverted were being sent to Kodiak.

He says inbound international flights to Anchorage were being guided by controllers at a regional radar approach facility.

Alaska Gov. Bill Walker tweeted that he has issued a disaster declaration.

2:19 PM —

2:15 PM — Traffic is at a “standstill” in the Glenn Highway.

2:14 PM — 

2:13 PM — White House press secretary Sarah Sanders says President Donald Trump was brief on the earthquake.

2:11 PM — Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin tweets that while her family is safe, her home sustained damages. “So thankful to be safe; praying for our state following the earthquake,” the conservative stalwart says.

2:10 PM — Chaotic scenes from CBS affiliate KTVA in Anchorage, Alaska.

2:07 PM —

2:05 PM — The National Tsunami Warning Center has issued a tsunami warning for coastal zones of southern Alaska following an earthquake that rocked buildings in downtown Anchorage.

The center said Friday that the warning was in effect for parts of the state’s Cook Inlet and the southern Kenai Peninsula.

The warning means tsunami waves are expected.

The U.S. Geological Survey initially said it was a 6.7 magnitude earthquake and then reduced that to 6.6.

The quake was centered about 7 miles (12 kilometers) north of Alaska’s largest city.

2:00 PM —

A 6.6 magnitude earthquake has rocked buildings in Anchorage and caused lamp posts and trees to sway, prompting people to run out of offices and seek shelter under office desks.

The U.S. Geological Survey says the earthquake Friday morning was centered about 7 miles (12 kilometers) north of Alaska’s largest city.

An Associated Press reporter working in downtown Anchorage saw cracks in a 2-story building after the quake. It was unclear whether there were injuries.

People went back inside buildings after the earthquake but a smaller aftershock a short time later sent them running back into the streets again.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

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