Washington - Saba:
A powerful 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Alaska on Wednesday, triggering a tsunami warning, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The earthquake struck at 12:37 p.m. local time (20:37 GMT), with its epicenter about 87 kilometers (54 miles) south of the island town of Sand Point, at a relatively shallow depth of 20.1 kilometers (12.4 miles).
Following the earthquake, authorities issued a tsunami warning for southern Alaska and the Alaska Peninsula.
The National Tsunami Warning Center in Palmer said, "A tsunami has been confirmed, and some impacts are expected."
According to the center, the warning covers "southern Alaska, the Alaska Peninsula, and the Pacific coast from Kennedy Entrance (40 miles southwest of Homer) to Unimak Pass (81 miles northeast of Unalaska)," noting that based on preliminary information, no tsunami warnings were issued for other distant areas.
Alaska is located on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," an area of intense seismic and volcanic activity.
In March 1964, the state experienced a devastating 9.2-magnitude earthquake, the most powerful in North American history. It caused widespread destruction in Anchorage and triggered a tsunami that struck the Gulf of Alaska, the U.S. West Coast, and Hawaii, killing more than 250 people.
In July 2023, another 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck off the Alaska Peninsula, but caused no significant damage.
| more of (International) |