A huge earthquake off the coast of Alaska on Wednesday night prompted a tsunami alert in some areas of the state, which includes South Alaska, the Alaska Peninsula, and Aleutian islands. This covers areas from the Hinchinbrook Entrance to Unipak Pass, and from Unimak Pass to Samalga Pass.
At around 10:15 pm local time on Wednesday night, a huge 8.2 earthquake was detected about 56 miles or 91 kilometers east of Perryville, Alaska. Hence, a tsunami warning was then issued by the National Tsunami Warning Center.
“This event was felt throughout the Alaska Peninsula and Kodiak,” said the Alaska Earthquake Center.
According to the Weather Service in Palmer, Alaska, because of the earthquake, "widespread hazardous tsunami waves are possible", prompting a tsunami warning.
Moreover, Governor Mike Dunleavy of Alaska announced that the emergency operation center is now in operation and the government is taking actions to ensure the safety of those in the warning areas. According to his tweet, they are immediately reaching out to communities or areas where the tsunami warnings were imposed.
Aside from Alaska, a tsunami alert was also issued in Hawaii and the US Pacific territory of Guam. However, it was cancelled roughly an hour after the warning was issued. According to the National Weather Service Pacific Tsunami Warning Center,
“Based on all available data, there is no tsunami threat.”
However, the US National Tsunami Warning Center is still evaluating the possible tsunami danger for the remaining North America and Canadian Pacific coasts.
One of the areas where the huge earthquake was felt was in Kodiak wherein, people fled to higher grounds or places after sirens that signifies tsunami warning were blared. People in Kodiak, the biggest town in Kodiak Island, were prompted by authorities to go to high evacuation locations such as a high school in the area.
Just before midnight in Alaska, a rise in water levels was recorded. One of which is in Sandpoint, where the water level rose to around six inches, and in Old Harbor on Kodiak Island where an eight-inches rise in water level was recorded.
Although the earthquake was strong, it was considered shallow, which has a depth of around 0 to 70 km. Mentioned areas under the tsunami warning are currently on heightened alert and surveillance.
According to the US Geological Survey, so far there have been eight recorded aftershocks of the strong earthquake that includes a magnitude 6.2 quake and another 5.6 quake. There have been no reports yet of property loss or damage in the areas where the huge earthquake was felt.
Several news outlets also reported that authorities from other countries have been investigating the effects of the earthquake.
The possibility of the earthquake causing a tsunami in Japan was promptly investigated by the Japan Meteorological Agency. So far, the agency has not released any warnings. Aside from them, even authorities in New Zealand also assessed whether the earthquake would prompt an effect on their coastal areas.
