An earthquake measuring 6.8 on the Richter scale hit southern Alaska.

Thousands of people were left without power by the quake, which lasted about 30 seconds from around 1.30am local time.

The epicentre was 162 miles south west of Anchorage, Alaska's largest city.

However, despite the shockwaves reaching the capital and beyond, damage appears to be limited. The Anchorage Police Department said they had “not received any major reports of damage or injury as a result of the strong earthquake.”

The National Weather Service said a tsunami was not expected as a result of the tremors.

However, power cuts were reported by the Matanuska Electric Association, with thousands of people though to have been affected and many residents of Anchorage reported being woken up by the quake.

The area effected by the earthquake (US Geological Survey/Earthquake Hazards Program)

"I remember the bed swaying back and forth, and loud noises, enough to wake me up even after taking sleeping pills," Associated Press reporter Mark Thiessen told ABC News.

"My husband came into the bedroom forcefully saying, 'Get up! Get up! But I was already awake, trying to figure out what was happening."

The shockwaves were felt as far away as Norway.

Video footage emerged from the interior of the Alaska Air Cargo building at Anchorage International Airport, showing the building shaking and heavy crates wobbling with the force of the quake.

Ohhh shit earthquake Posted by Arv Pugay on Sunday, 24 January 2016

One Anchorage resident caught the impact to his house on video.

There was also damage to supermarkets:

Others related their experiences on social media: