A powerful 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck off Alaska’s coast on Wednesday at 12:38 p.m. local time, triggering a tsunami warning that forced thousands of residents to evacuate to higher ground. The quake’s epicenter was located southeast of Sand Point near the Shumagin Islands, south of the Alaska Peninsula.
Emergency sirens and phone alerts warned people from Kennedy Entrance near Homer to Unimak Pass near Unalaska to evacuate immediately. Homer’s mayor, Rachel Lord, described heavy traffic as people rushed to safety.
Officials warned that tsunamis could impact the eastern Aleutian Islands, Alaska Peninsula, and Kodiak Island. Dramatic images showed the ocean receding along the coast, a common tsunami precursor. A small tsunami was confirmed, with water levels rising about three inches, but it no longer poses a threat.
The tsunami warning was downgraded to an advisory about 90 minutes later and then canceled by 12:45 p.m. Residents were advised to remain cautious for up to 24 hours due to possible sea level changes.
Emergency shelters were opened in Kodiak as coastal communities prepared for aftershocks, which have included over 20 events, the largest measuring magnitude 5.2. Seismologist Michael West noted that Alaska experiences most U.S. earthquakes but rarely of this strength.
The National Weather Service confirmed that Oregon, Washington, and other western states were not at risk. Authorities urged low-lying areas like King Cove to evacuate.
The last major quake of similar size in Alaska was in 1996. The largest ever recorded remains the 1964 Great Alaska Earthquake, which triggered devastating tsunamis across the Pacific.
