Though the maximum recorded Modified Mercalli intensity was VII (Very strong), damage was minimal and there were no casualties due to the remoteness of the faulting.

[2] The Saint Elias area represents a transition zone between the convergent and strike-slip plate motions.

This part of the plate boundary, dubbed the Yakataga Gap, extends 250 km (160 mi) across, where great earthquakes of magnitudes 8.0 or larger have a recurrence interval of 80 years.

[6] It occurred at a shallow depth of 15.0 km (9.3 mi),[1] beneath the Chugach and Saint Elias ranges.

Beneath the Saint Elias range, subduction of the Pacific plate and possibly including the Yakutat Block occurs at a rate of 5.3 cm (2.1 in) annually.

[2] Three accelerographs located within 250 km (160 mi) of the epicenter recorded strong ground motion data from the earthquake.

The Alyeska Pipeline Service Company also recorded digital ground motion data in Valdez using their accelerographs.

[12] It was felt the strongest, VII (Very strong) on the Mercalli intensity scale,[13] at Icy Bay Lumber Camp, 73 km (45 mi) away, where a logging truck bounced violently.

[14] Damage to drywall and plaster, and displaced furniture was observed in Mendenhall, Haines, Border City, Juneau and Cape Yakataga.

Likewise, at Juneau Airport, passengers disembarking a plane struggled to stand and a heavy desk in the terminal was shaken.