Magnitude 7.3 earthquake reported in southern Alaska
July 16 (UPI) -- A magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck Alaska on Wednesday and a tsunami warning was canceled two hours later for the Alaska Peninsula and Kodiak Island.
The quake struck at 12:37 p.m. local time at a depth of 12.5 miles about 54 miles south of Sand Point, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The earthquake was felt throughout the Alaska Peninsula and southern Alaska, the Alaska Earthquake Center said. Anchorage, the state's capital, is about 557 miles from the quake center.
The Alaska Earthquake Center reported about 30 aftershocks in two hours after the earthquake. The largest one was magnitude 5.2.
Dave Snider, a tsunami warning coordinator with the National Tsunami Warning Center, told KTUU-TV because it happened in shallow water they were "not expecting a large event."
The National Weather Service in Anchorage, Alaska, first issued a tsunami warning right after the quake, then it was downgraded and lifed at 2:43 p.m. Warnings were sounded in Sand Point, Cold Bay and Kodiak.
The Kodiak Emergency Operations Center reported a 6-inch wave that was confirmed by the U.S. Coast Guard.
State Seismologist Michael West told KTUU-TV that activity is common after an earthquake and aftershocks can be expected in the "coming days, weeks and even months."
The area is part of Pacific "Ring of Fire."
"This is the fifth earthquake exceeding magnitude 7.0 in a very small stretch of the Aleutians, just a couple hundred kilometers, since 2020," West said. "Clearly, something is going on."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
25 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Massive earthquake off Russian coast sparks tsunami warnings across Pacific
An 8.8-magnitude earthquake off the eastern coast of Russia set off multiple tsunamis in the northern Pacific early Wednesday, with authorities from Hawaii to New Zealand issuing warnings. The quake was recorded as the world's strongest since the since the shock that caused meltdowns at a Japan nuclear power plant in 2011. One of the world's strongest earthquakes struck Russia's Far East early Wednesday, an 8.8-magnitude temblor that set off a tsunami in the northern Pacific region and prompted warnings for Alaska, Hawaii and other coasts south toward New Zealand. Tsunami warning sirens blared Tuesday in Honolulu and people moved to higher ground. The Japan Meteorological Agency said a tsunami measuring 40 centimeters (1.3 feet) was detected in Tokachi, on the southern coast of Hokkaido, the northernmost of the country's main islands. The Russian areas nearest the quake's epicenter on the Kamchatka Peninsula reported damage and evacuations, but no serious injuries. The first tsunami wave hit the coastal area of Severo-Kurilsk, the main settlement on Russia's Kuril Islands in the Pacific, according to the local governor Valery Limarenko. He said residents were safe and staying on high ground until the threat of a repeat wave was gone. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said a tsunami had been generated by the quake that could cause damage along the coastlines of all the Hawaiian islands. 'Urgent action should be taken to protect lives and property,' the warning stated. The first waves were expected around 7 p.m. Tuesday local time. The Oregon Department of Emergency Management said on Facebook that small tsunami waves were expected along the coast starting around 11:40 p.m. local time, with wave heights between 1 to 2 feet (30 to 60 centimeters). It urged people to stay away from beaches, harbors and marinas and to remain in a safe location away from the coast until the advisory is lifted. 'This is not a major tsunami, but dangerous currents and strong waves may pose a risk to those near the water,' the department said. Read moreCeremonies across Asia mark 20 years since catastrophic tsunami that killed 220,000 Oregon is under a tsunami advisory, along with much of the West Coast spanning Canada's British Columbia province, Washington state and California. The quake at 8:25 a.m. Japan time had a preliminary magnitude of 8.0, Japan and U.S. seismologists said. The U.S. Geological Survey later updated its measurement to 8.8 magnitude and the USGS said the quake occurred at a depth of 20.7 kilometers (13 miles). The quake was centered about 119 kilometers (74 miles) east-southeast from the Russian city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, which has a population of 180,000, on the Kamchatka Peninsula. Multiple aftershocks as strong as 6.9 magnitude were recorded. The quake caused damage to buildings and cars swayed in the streets in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky, which also had power outages and mobile phone service failures. Russian news agencies quoting the regional Health Ministry saying several people sought medical help in Kamchatka after the earthquake, but no serious injuries were reported. The earthquake appeared to be the strongest anywhere in the world since the March 2011 earthquake off northeast Japan that was 9.0 magnitude and caused a massive tsunami that set off meltdowns at a nuclear power plant. Only a few stronger earthquakes have ever been measured around the world. Japanese nuclear power plants along the Pacific coast have reported no abnormalities after Wednesday's quake. Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, which operates the tsunami-hit Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, said about 4,000 workers are taking shelter on higher ground at the plant complex while monitoring remotely to ensure plant safety. Philippine authorities warned provinces and towns along the archipelago's eastern coast facing the Pacific of possible tsunami waves of less than 1 meter (3 feet) and advised people to stay away from the beach and coastal areas. 'It may not be the largest of waves, but these can continue for hours and expose people swimming in the waters to danger,' Teresito Bacolcol of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology told The Associated Press. New Zealand authorities issued warnings of 'strong and unusual currents and unpredictable surges' along coastlines throughout the country. The government emergency management agency said people should move out of the water, off beaches and shore areas, and away from harbors, marinas, rivers and estuaries. New Zealand is in the South Pacific and about 6,000 miles (9,600 kilometers) from the epicenter. The quake was the strongest to hit this area in the Kamchatka Peninsula since 1952, according to the local branch of the Geophysical Survey of the Russian Academy of Sciences. They said that while the situation 'was under control' there are risks of aftershocks, which could last for up to a month and warned against visiting certain coastal areas. Earlier in July, five powerful quakes — the largest with a magnitude of 7.4 — struck in the sea near Kamchatka. The largest quake was at a depth of 20 kilometers and was 144 kilometers (89 miles) east of the city of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky. On Nov. 4, 1952, a magnitude 9.0 quake in Kamchatka caused damage but no reported deaths despite setting off 9.1-meter (30-foot) waves in Hawaii. (FRANCE 24 with AP)
Los Angeles Times
27 minutes ago
- Los Angeles Times
What to expect along California coast when tsunami waves arrive
In the next few hours, the California coast will experience impacts from the massive quake that hit off Russia's eastern coast. Officials estimated that wave size in Southern California would be modest. But in the north, the waves could be larger. Authorities in Northern California have urged people not to go to the beaches but have not issued evacuations. Here is what to expect: The Humboldt County Office of Emergency Services urged people to move out of the water, off the beach and away from harbors. When tsunami waves hit in 2022, California experienced relatively minor effects. But at Santa Cruz Harbor, waves flooded streets and a parking lot, where cars floated about like toy boats. Water poured into bathrooms and electrical transformers onshore. It caused an estimated $6 million in damage to Santa Cruz alone, officials later said. In 2011, a tsunami from the devastating Japan earthquake also battered some coastal areas of California, resulting in more than $100 million in damage at marinas and harbors, state officials estimate. In Crescent City, residents reported that about three dozen boats were 'crushed' in the harbor and that surging waters significantly damaged or destroyed many docks. One person died after being swept into the sea, reportedly while taking pictures of the tsunami. In 2006, Crescent City residents were caught off guard by significant seawater surge hours after a tsunami warning expired, causing significant harbor damage. Most notably, the Alaskan earthquake of 1964 set off a catastrophic tsunami that devastated Crescent City, washing away 29 city blocks and killing at least 11 people. A series of nighttime waves crashed through the coastal city, destroying or damaging 91 houses and 172 businesses. California officials also have records of tsunamis hitting Northern California in 1960 and 1946, which each left at least one person dead. The 1946 tsunami, triggered by a 8.6 magnitude earthquake near Alaska, flooded parts of Half Moon Bay. Among the earliest records of a tsunami in California is an event in 1812 when a large earthquake in the Santa Barbara area 'was followed by a tsunami that wiped out many coastal villages and destroyed ships in the harbor,' according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Look out for tsunami hazard maps in your area. If maps or signs are not available, state officials suggest getting to an area 100 feet above sea level or two miles inland. 'If you cannot get this far, go as high as possible. Every foot inland or upwards can make a difference,' state officials say. The National Weather Service operates two tsunami warning centers, with a goal of monitoring for tsunamis and the earthquakes that may cause them, to send tsunami alerts. To get official notifications of a tsunami warning, sign up for text message alerts from your local government, get a battery-powered National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather radio, or listen for TV, radio or automated telephone announcements. Sign up for alerts here: Officials urge people not to go to the coast to see the tsunami, and noted that you can't surf a tsunami. 'You can't surf a tsunami, because it doesn't have a face' — where the surfboard grips a wave — according to the University of Hawaii. In 2022, San Francisco firefighters had to rescue experienced surfers from the incoming tsunami. That tsunami caused about $11.5 million in damage to harbor infrastructure, waterways and boats in California, the California Geological Survey has said.
UPI
44 minutes ago
- UPI
Strong quake strikes near Russia; tsunami alerts for Japan, U.S.
A television screen shows a news report from the Japanese Meteorological Agency following a 8.8 magnitude quake that struck off the Kamchatka Peninsula, in Tokyo, Japan, on Wednesday. Photo by Franck Robichon/EPA July 29 (UPI) -- A massive magnitude-8.7 earthquake struck near Russia's Kamchatka Peninsula Wednesday morning, prompting the Japanese government to issue tsunami warnings and evacuations along its northeastern coast, while warnings have been issued for much of the U.S. West Coast. The earthquake struck at about 8:25 a.m., Japanese time, off the Kamchatka Peninsula. The Japan Meteorological Agency rated it a 8.7-magnitude temblor while the U.S. Geological Survey said it was an 8.8-magnitude strike. The U.S. survey said it struck about 74 miles east-southeast of Petropavlovsk on the Kamchatka Peninsula at a depth of 12.8 miles. If confirmed as an 8.8 magnitude strike, it would be among the 10 largest earthquakes ever recorded and the largest since 2011, when a 9.1 magnitude earthquake struck Japan, resulting in a tsunami that killed more than 18,000 people and destroyed the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant. JAPAN The Japan Meteorological Agency is warning of tsunamis as high as 3 meters, or nearly 9 feet, from northeastern Hokkaido southward to Wakayama Prefecture. Tsunami warnings order the immediate evacuation from coastal regions and riverside areas to safer, higher ground. Tsunami advisories have been issued for the rest of the southeastern coast of the country. Japan Safe Travel, a division of the Asian nation's tourism organization, is warning that tsunamis are expected to strike the country between 1 and 3 meters starting at about 10 a.m. local time until at least 1:30 p.m. According to Japan's fire and disaster management agency, evacuation orders have been issued for 112 cities and towns, affecting more than 1.9 million people. TEPCO, the Tokyo Electric Power Company, said in a statement that all workers at the Fukushima nuclear plant, which is under decommission, have been evacuated. The Japanese government said it has established a prime minister's liaison office to respond to the earthquake and tsunami. United States A tsunami warning has also been issued for Hawaii, Alaska's Samalga Pass, and California's west coast from Cape Mendocino to the Oregon-California border while advisories have been issued for much of the U.S. and Canadian West Coast. According to the National Weather Service, the tsunami could cause damage all along the coastlines of all Hawaiian islands and "urgent actions should be taken to protect lives and property." "A tsunami has been generated that could cause damage along coastlines of all islands in the state of Hawaii," the NWS said in a statement. "Urgent action should be taken to protect lives and property." Hawaii Gov. Josh Green has issued an emergency proclamation activating the U.S. National Guard to assist with disaster relief and for the state's emergency services to take necessary safety actions. In a press conference, Green said they expect "significant damage" along the coastlines, and that they "we pray that we won't lose any of our loved ones." "God willing these waves will not hurt us, but you have to assume -- assume -- they will be life threatening," he said. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center is forecasting waves of 10 feet above tide level are possible to hit the northern Hawaii islands. The Hawaii Department of Transport said the Coast Guard has ordered all vessels to follow their procedures to leave port for all islands. In California, Gov. Gavin Newsom's office said he has been briefed on the situation, while urging residents to stay alert and follow local emergency guidance. Officials have also closed all beaches, harbors and piers in California's Huntington Beach, though no evacuations orders have yet been given. For Samalga Pass, it said that a tsunami with "significant inundation is possible or is already occurring." "STAY STRONG AND STAY SAFE!" U.S. President Donald Trump said in a statement to his Truth Social platform. RUSSIA Russia's emergencies ministry said in a statement that tsunami waves have already hit its far east coast, flooding the port town of Severo-Kurilsk and the Alaid fish processing plant. "Residents have been evacuated," it said. Valery Limarenk, governor of Sakhalin oblast, also confirmed on Telegram that the tsunami had struck, saying "residents of the settlement remain safe on higher ground until the threat of additional waves is fully lifted." In Kamchatka, off where the quake struck, responders are inspecting buildings. It said the facade of one kindergarten that was under renovation collapsed. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has also warned of waves of up to 10 feet hitting parts of Russia and Ecuador. This is a developing story.
