Tsunami warning issued as Alaska rocked by huge 7.3 magnitude earthquake with residents urged to move to higher ground | The Sun
A 7.3 magnitude earthquake has been reported off the coast of Alaska, sparking tsunami fears.
Locals have been urged to move to higher ground and received tsunami alerts on their cell phones.
Seismologists have said the quake hit 55 miles off the coast of Sand Point late on Saturday evening.
It has a depth of 13 miles and was described as "notable" by the US Geological Survey.
Shockwaves were felt in the Aleutian Islands, Alaskan Peninsula, and the Cook Inlet regions.
Officials at the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration issued a tsunami warning before downgrading it to an advisory and later canceling it.
Residents in the state's largest city Anchorage said they received warnings on their phones.
One social media user said: "Did anyone else just get an emergency alert for tsunami in Anchorage like my cell phone did? Interesting."
Another commented: "I got a tsunami alert for Anchorage about five minutes ago."
Americans have been urged to stay out of the water and away from the beaches.
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Footage shared online showed sirens wailing as a high school was evacuated.
The National Weather Service has warned that some areas may see small sea level changes and locals shouldn't "re-enter hazard zones" unless local officials give the green light to do so.
Meanwhile, officials at the Alaska Volcano Observatory said the Shishaldin volcano is sending steam and ash into the air.
They said that a "significant explosion" happened just after 1am local time.
The volcano is sending steam and ash 40,000 feet into the air.
Australian officials have said a tsunami threat has not been issued for the country.
And, an advisory has been issued for coastal areas around Japan, according to local reports.
Alaska experiences 11 percent of the world's recorded earthquakes, per the state's Seismic Hazards Safety Commission.
On average, there is a magnitude 7 or greater earthquake somewhere in or offshore Alaska every one to 2 years and a magnitude 8 or greater quake about every 13 years, according to the US Geological Survey.
In 2021, Alaska was rocked by an 8.2 magnitude quake, which was the strongest tremor to hit the US in 50 years at the time.
The quake, which was thought to be around 35km in depth, hit 91km southeast of the town of Perryville.
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Officials said it was the strongest to hit the area since 1964.
A 9.2 magnitude quake hit Alaska in 1964, which caused a tsunami and triggered four minutes of shaking, landslides, and 70-meter-high waves.
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