Powerful 7.3 Earthquake Strikes Off Alaska Coast, Triggers Tsunami Alert
A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck off Alaska’s southern coast Wednesday at 12:38 p.m. local time, prompting tsunami warnings and widespread evacuations. The quake’s epicenter was near the Shumagin Islands, southeast of Sand Point.
Sirens and emergency alerts urged residents from Homer to Unalaska to move to higher ground. In Homer, Mayor Rachel Lord reported heavy traffic as people sought safety. A small tsunami was observed, with sea levels rising about three inches, but no significant damage was reported.
The tsunami warning was downgraded to an advisory and later canceled by 12:45 p.m. Still, officials advised caution for the next 24 hours due to potential sea level fluctuations.
More than 20 aftershocks followed, including one measuring 5.2. Emergency shelters were activated, particularly in Kodiak. Alaska, which experiences the most earthquakes in the U.S., rarely sees quakes of this magnitude.
No tsunami threat was posed to Oregon, Washington, or other West Coast states. The last comparable quake in Alaska occurred in 1996, with the most powerful being the 1964 Great Alaska Earthquake.
