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A 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Alaska on Wednesday, prompting a tsunami warning for parts of South Alaska and the Alaska Peninsula, the U.S. Geological Survey said.
The quake occurred at approximately 12:37 p.m. local time (2037 GMT), with its epicenter located about 54 miles (87 kilometers) south of the island town of Sand Point. The tremor had a relatively shallow depth of 20.1 kilometers (12.5 miles), according to USGS data.
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The National Tsunami Warning Center (NTWC) in Palmer, Alaska, confirmed the generation of a tsunami, saying in a statement: “A tsunami has been confirmed and some impacts are expected.”
The warning was issued for “South Alaska and the Alaska Peninsula, Pacific coasts from Kennedy Entrance, Alaska (40 miles southwest of Homer) to Unimak Pass, Alaska (80 miles northeast of Unalaska),” the center said..
The NTWC added that no tsunami warnings, advisories, or watches were issued for more distant regions.
Alaska, located along the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire, is one of the most earthquake-prone areas in the United States.
In March 1964, Alaska was struck by a 9.2-magnitude earthquake—the strongest ever recorded in North America. The quake devastated Anchorage and triggered a massive tsunami that impacted the Gulf of Alaska, the U.S. West Coast, and Hawaii, killing more than 250 people.
More recently, a 7.2-magnitude earthquake hit off the Alaskan Peninsula in July 2023. No significant damage was reported from that tremor.
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