Earthquake Today: Recent Tremor in Alaska and Proactive Measures for Data Security
A 6.3-magnitude earthquake struck near Alaska on Monday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The tremor, occurring at a shallow depth of just 1 kilometer (0.62 miles), prompted a quick assessment by the US Tsunami Warning System, which thankfully determined that a tsunami warning was not necessary.
Recent Seismic Activity in Alaska
This event follows a 6.0-magnitude earthquake that shook the Anchorage metropolitan area on November 27th of last year. That tremor occurred at a depth of 69 kilometers (43 miles), with its epicenter located 12 kilometers (7 miles) west-northwest of Susitna, Alaska – approximately 67 miles (108 kilometers) northwest of Anchorage. While felt strongly, there were no immediate reports of significant damage. Anchorage municipal inspectors confirmed no issues with critical public infrastructure, as reported by Mayor Suzanne LaFrance via social media. Again, the US Tsunami Warning System indicated no tsunami threat.
Alaskans, accustomed to seismic activity, even found humor in the situation, playfully dubbing the Thanksgiving holiday “Shakesgiving” online. Alaska consistently ranks as the most earthquake-prone state in the U.S. and is among the most seismically active regions globally, experiencing a magnitude 7 earthquake almost annually, as noted by the USGS. This recent quake was the largest to hit south-central Alaska since 2021, according to KTUU TV.
RBI’s New Seismic-Resistant Data Center
Beyond the natural phenomenon of earthquakes, concerns about seismic risk are also driving infrastructure decisions in the financial sector. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has recently established a high-security data center in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, strategically located to mitigate potential threats.
This new facility, built on an 18.55-acre campus at Info Valley-II, Khordha, is designed to host core computing systems supporting the central bank’s crucial operations, including currency management, payment and settlement processes, and regulatory data functions. According to reports from PTI, analysts and officials emphasize the strategic location.
The choice of Bhubaneswar was deliberate. The location is well away from India’s western and northern borders, reducing vulnerability to cross-border threats like missile or drone attacks. Crucially, it also lies outside the country’s highest seismic risk zones, minimizing the potential impact of major earthquakes. This strategic positioning “strengthens the safety and continuity framework for infrastructure that underpins critical financial systems.”
This marks the RBI’s second data center, complementing its Primary Data Centre in Kharghar, Navi Mumbai. Unlike Mumbai and Chennai, which are major data center hubs and landing sites for subsea communication cables, Odisha offers a degree of isolation. This isolation is intended to insulate the facility from concentrated cyber risks and network vulnerabilities.
The RBI’s proactive approach reflects a global trend among central banks and financial institutions to prioritize data security, operational control, and systemic resilience by establishing and managing their own secure data centers, rather than relying on public infrastructure. This strategy was highlighted last year when a commercial bank reportedly relocated its data center operations overnight from Jaipur to Mumbai during heightened India-Pakistan tensions involving drone activity.
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