A 7.3-magnitude earthquake jolted the coast of the US state of Alaska on Wednesday, prompting a tsunami warning, as per the US Geological Survey (USGS). The earthquake struck at approximately 12:37 pm local time (2037 GMT), with its epicentre located about 54 miles (87 km) south of Sand Point, near Popof Island, at the centre of the Alaska Peninsula. The depth was recorded at 20.1 km, making it a relatively shallow quake, which can often be more damaging. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued a tsunami warning for an area covering much of the Alaska Peninsula and extending into the southernmost portion of mainland Alaska, reaching toward Anchorage. According to the National Tsunami Warning Center (NTWC) in Palmer, Alaska, “a tsunami has been confirmed and some impacts are expected.” The warning specifically applied to the Pacific coasts from Kennedy Entrance (40 miles southwest of Homer) to Unimak Pass (80 miles northeast of Unalaska). Based on initial assessments, tsunami warnings were not issued for regions beyond Alaska, the NTWC added. A major earthquake is considered to have a magnitude of 7.0 to 7.9 and is capable of causing serious damage. On average, about 10 to 15 such strong earthquakes are recorded globally each year. Alaska lies on the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire and has experienced powerful quakes in the past. The most significant was a 9.2-magnitude earthquake in March 1964, the strongest ever recorded in North America, which devastated Anchorage and triggered a tsunami that hit the US West Coast and Hawaii, killing over 250 people. In July 2023, a 7.2-magnitude quake had also struck off the Alaska Peninsula, though no major damage was reported then. (This is a developing story)
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