International: A powerful 7.3-magnitude earthquake rattled off Alaska’s southern coast on Wednesday, sending a momentary shiver down residents’ spines as tsunami warnings were promptly issued, only to be rescinded hours later. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) pinpointed the epicentre of the 12:37 a.m. local time (2037 GMT) tremor some 87 kilometres south of Sand Point.
The relatively shallow depth of the quake, at just 12.5 miles, amplified its felt intensity, prompting the National Tsunami Warning Center (NTWC) to initially trigger alerts for South Alaska and the Alaska Peninsula. Coastal communities braced for impact, adhering to the urgent advisories.
However, relief soon followed as the NTWC, approximately two hours later, downgraded the warning to an advisory before ultimately cancelling it entirely. In an official bulletin, the centre declared, “The Tsunami Advisory is canceled for the coastal areas of South Alaska and the Alaska Peninsula.”
While the earthquake did generate a minor tsunami wave, measuring a mere 6.1 centimetres (0.2 feet) at Sand Point, the seismic event was followed by over a dozen aftershocks, with the strongest registering at a magnitude of 5.2, according to USGS data.
Authorities maintained a cautious stance, urging those in coastal hazard zones to remain vigilant. The NTWC advised, “Do not re-occupy hazard zones until local emergency officials indicate it is safe to do so.”
Fortunately, no immediate reports of damage or casualties emerged from the incident. This latest seismic activity serves as a stark reminder of Alaska’s geographical predicament, nestled within the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region globally renowned for its heightened and frequent tectonic movements.
The present quake echoes a similar 7.2-magnitude tremor recorded off the Alaska Peninsula in July 2023, which also led to tsunami warnings but, thankfully, no substantial damage. Alaska’s history is punctuated by significant seismic events, most notably the 1964 Great Alaska Earthquake. Measuring a colossal 9.2 magnitude, it remains the most powerful quake in North American history, unleashing a devastating tsunami that swept across Anchorage, parts of the U.S. West Coast, and Hawaii, resulting in considerable loss of life and property.
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