A tsunami warning has been issued after a 7.2 earthquake struck off the coast of Alaska
A powerful 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck 50 miles south of Sand Point, Alaska, at 12:38 p.m. local time, triggering a tsunami warning for South Alaska and the Alaska Peninsula. The event has since been upgraded to 7.3.
The National Tsunami Warning Center says the quake originated at a depth of 22 miles and could generate dangerous waves and coastal flooding from Kennedy Entrance to Unimak Pass. Communities including Sand Point, Cold Bay, and Kodiak may begin seeing tsunami activity starting as early as 1:16 p.m. Alaska time. No tsunami waves have yet been observed, but emergency officials urge all residents in the warning zone to evacuate immediately to higher ground.
There is no confirmed Tsunami threat for California at this time, according to officials speaking via the US Tsunami Warning System. An eerie video circulating on X shows the unsettling howl of a tsunami siren going off at the time of the seismic event in Old Harbor. It’s not the first terrifying tsunami warning to be issued this year.
Communities including Sand Point, Cold Bay, and Kodiak may begin seeing tsunami activity starting as early as 1:16 p.m. Alaska time (Image: Getty Images)
Authorities warn that damaging waves, powerful currents, and debris-filled floodwaters could strike repeatedly for hours, with later waves potentially more dangerous than the first. Residents are told to stay away from beaches, harbors, and low-lying coastal areas until officials declare it safe.
In Unalaska, a fishing community of about 4,100, officials also urged people to move at least 50 feet above sea level, 1 mile (1.6 km) inland. In King Cove, which has about 870 residents on the south side of the Alaska Peninsula, officials sent an alert calling on those in the coastal area to move to higher ground.
According to charts found at the earthquake.usgs.gov, the center of the seismic event near the Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge. At this time, no fatalities or heavy financial losses were reported as a result of the 7.2 quake. Emergency officials are reportedly monitoring the situation.
The Washington Emergency Management Division said on X that it was still examining exactly what the tsunami warning means for Washington state coastlines and that it was in contact with the National Tsunami Warning Center.
The Mirror