Chaos Erupts as Alaska Faces Tsunami Warning Following Powerful 7.3 Magnitude Earthquake: Residents Rush to Safety!

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — A strong earthquake struck off the southern coast of Alaska on Wednesday, prompting communities to urge residents to move to higher ground. The 7.3 magnitude quake hit near Sand Point, a small town on Popof Island, at 12:37 p.m. local time. Fortunately, officials quickly rescinded the tsunami warning, and there were no major reports of damage.

There were numerous aftershocks—40 in the first few hours alone. Jeremy Zidek, from Alaska’s emergency management division, said, “We’ve seen other earthquakes here that didn’t trigger significant tsunamis, but safety is our priority.” Residents were notified to activate evacuation procedures just in case.

The quake rattled places as far away as Anchorage, nearly 600 miles to the northeast. The tsunami warning initially covered an area over 700 miles long, reaching from southwest of Homer to Unimak Pass. It was downgraded to an advisory about an hour later and fully canceled just before 2:45 p.m.

In Sand Point, the highest water level recorded was only 2.5 inches above normal. Police Chief Benjamin Allen confirmed no significant damage, stating that the airport and harbor remained unharmed. However, a local store did suffer some damage, with broken bottles littering the floor. Store manager Vickey McDonald mentioned, “Half of our alcohol aisle is shattered, and it smells awful in here!”

In nearby Unalaska, officials advised residents in flood-prone areas to move at least 50 feet above sea level or one mile inland. Meanwhile, King Cove, home to around 870 residents, sent alerts for coastal inhabitants to find higher ground.

While vacationing at the Alaska SeaLife Center in Seward, tourists Jodie Stevens and Aaron Park found themselves in the midst of the quake. They quickly moved uphill as staff alerted everyone to evacuate. Just as they reached a safe spot, a siren signaled that it was safe to return.

The National Weather Service clarified on social media that there was no tsunami threat for other U.S. or Canadian Pacific coasts, including Washington, Oregon, and California.

Alaska’s southern coast frequently experiences earthquakes. This was the fifth quake in the same region exceeding a magnitude of 7 since 2020. State seismologist Michael West noted, “This area is part of a larger sequence of activity and is capable of much larger earthquakes.”

Experts agree that monitoring is crucial in such earthquake-prone areas. As towns continue to prepare for potential natural disasters, staying informed and ready is a must.

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Tsunamis, Alaska, General news, Earthquakes, Anchorage, Natural disasters, AK State Wire, HI State Wire, Hawaii, Benjamin Allen, Michael West, Climate and environment, U.S. news, Aaron Park, Jeremy Zidek, U.S. News