(TheRedAlertNews.com) – HAPPENING NOW: Late on Saturday, a powerful earthquake with a 7.2 magnitude shook the region close to the Alaska Peninsula.
Early reports showed that the earthquake happened about 55 miles southwest of Sand Point, Alaska, according to the National Weather Service. At first, the United States Geological Survey reported the quake’s magnitude as 7.4 on Twitter.
The earthquake occurred at around 10:48 p.m. local time. Videos shared on social media showed sirens blaring in Kodiak, Alaska, during the late night hours.
You can see a video of what took place on Kodiak Island and hear the Tsunami Warning Sirens, along with repeated verbal warnings in the video at the bottom of this post.
The National Weather Service in Anchorage quickly issued a tsunami warning in response to the earthquake. They stated there was a risk of “significant inundation” or extensive flooding. However, this alert was lowered to an advisory before it was fully withdrawn early Sunday.
“A tsunami was generated by this event, but no longer poses a threat,” said the NWS National Tsunami Warning Center. They added, “Some areas may continue to see small sea level changes.”
Earlier, when the alert was still an advisory, the center had encouraged people near the coast to move away from the beach and clear out of harbors and marinas.
When the tsunami warning was first issued, officials provided a timeline of about 90 minutes when they expected tsunami waves to reach the coast “from Chignik Bay to Unimak Pass.”
“Significant inundation is possible or already occurring,” stated the Anchorage office of the weather service on Twitter while releasing the earlier warning. They advised people to “Move inland to higher ground.”
Hawaii’s Management Agency confirmed no tsunami threat to their state.
USGS officials provided a summary of the event, stating the earthquake happened along the Alaska-Aleutian subduction zone, a region where powerful earthquakes frequently occur.
“Since 1900, nine other earthquakes M7 and larger have occurred within 250 km of the July 16, 2023, event,” said the USGS.
They recalled a particularly destructive 8.6-magnitude earthquake that hit about 93 miles away on April 1, 1946. This quake generated a tsunami that “devastated the lighthouse on Unimak Island and swept away its five occupants,” according to USGS officials. That tsunami also resulted in the death of 159 people in Hawaii and one person in California.
USGS officials also mentioned a 9.2-magnitude earthquake that took place in the Alaska-Aleutian Trench on March 27, 1964. This event is recorded as the second-largest earthquake ever detected by modern seismic equipment.
🚨#BREAKING: Massive Magnitude 7.2 Earthquake Triggers Tsunami Sirens Along Alaskan Coastline
📌#KodiakIsland l #Alaska
Sirens were sounding off in response to a tsunami warning. The warning came after a strong 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit the coastline of Alaska. The Tsunami… pic.twitter.com/rccv1h5hgW
— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) July 16, 2023
