Anchorage, Alaska (AP) — Residents along a 700-mile (1,127-km) stretch of Alaska’s southern coast faced evacuation orders following a powerful earthquake that struck on Wednesday. Fortunately, officials swiftly downgraded the initial tsunami warning for the region, leading to no immediate reports of significant damage.
The earthquake, which registered a preliminary magnitude of 7.3, occurred at 12:37 p.m. local time south of Sand Point, a small community of approximately 600 residents located on Popof Island within the Aleutian chain. According to the Alaska Earthquake Center, the first tsunami waves were expected to reach this area; however, the state's emergency management division reported just an hour after the quake that there were no indications of damage.
Jeremy Zidek, a spokesperson for the division, emphasized the importance of taking the situation seriously. "We have seen other earthquakes in the area that have not generated significant tsunami waves, but we’re treating it seriously and going through our procedures," he stated. Zidek added that efforts were made to ensure communities received timely notifications to activate their evacuation protocols.
The tremor was reportedly felt as far away as Anchorage, nearly 600 miles (966 km) to the northeast. The National Tsunami Warning Center initially issued a warning covering an expansive area from about 40 miles (64.4 km) southwest of Homer to Unimak Pass, spanning approximately 700 miles (1,126 kilometers). The city of Kodiak, with a population of around 5,200, is one of the larger communities located within this warning area.
About an hour after the initial alert, officials downgraded the tsunami warning to an advisory, which was eventually canceled just before 2:45 p.m. In the fishing community of Unalaska, home to about 4,100 residents, local authorities advised individuals in potential inundation zones to move at least 50 feet above sea level or 1 mile (1.6 km) inland for safety.
Similarly, in King Cove, a small community with approximately 870 residents on the southern side of the Alaska Peninsula, officials issued alerts urging those in coastal areas to seek higher ground. The National Weather Service reassured residents on social media that there was no tsunami threat for other U.S. and Canadian Pacific coasts, including states like Washington, Oregon, and California.
Alaska’s southern coast is known for its seismic activity, and Wednesday’s earthquake marks the fifth occurrence in roughly the same region since 2020, all exceeding a magnitude of 7. State seismologist Michael West noted that “something’s moving in this area,” highlighting that the earthquake is likely part of a larger seismic sequence that has occurred over the past several years.
West further cautioned, “This area has been and remains capable of larger earthquakes and earthquakes capable of significant tsunami damage,” a statement that underscores the ongoing monitoring efforts by seismologists in the region.
___ Bohrer reported from Juneau, Alaska. Associated Press reporter Lisa Baumann contributed from Bellingham, Washington.
