Latest news with #aftershocks
The Independent
3 days ago
- Climate
- The Independent
Locals rush to safety as tsunami warning follows 7.3 magnitude Alaska quake
A 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck south of Sand Point on Popof Island, Alaska, on Wednesday. The quake prompted a tsunami warning for a 700-mile stretch of the Alaskan coast, leading local communities to evacuate to higher ground. The Alaska Earthquake Center recorded 40 aftershocks within three hours of the main tremor. Authorities subsequently downgraded and then canceled the tsunami warning, with no significant damage reported. Watch the video in full above.
Times of Oman
3 days ago
- Climate
- Times of Oman
Earthquake of magnitude 7.3 rattles Alaska, tsunami warning issued
Alaska: An earthquake of magnitude 7.3 on the Richter Scale rattled Alaska in the early hours of Thursday (local time), a statement by the National Center for Seismology (NCS) said. As per the NCS, the massive earthquake occurred at a shallow depth of 36km, making it susceptible to aftershocks. In a post on X, the NCS said, "EQ of M: 7.3, On: 17/07/2025 02:07:42 IST, Lat: 54.91 N, Long: 160.56 W, Depth: 36 Km, Location: Alaska Peninsula." Shallow earthquakes are generally more dangerous than deep earthquakes. This is because the seismic waves from shallow earthquakes have a shorter distance to travel to the surface, resulting in stronger ground shaking and potentially more damage to structures and greater casualties. A tsunami warning was issued for parts of coastal Alaska after an earthquake in the Gulf of Alaska, according to the US Tsunami Warning System, The New York Times reported. A tsunami warning is the most urgent alert issued by the National Weather Service in the United States, and it means that people should move to higher ground or go inland. A tsunami advisory means people should get out of coastal waters and stay away from beaches and waterways. A tsunami watch means experts are evaluating the threat, so stay tuned for further information. The Alaska-Aleutian subduction system is one of the most seismically active globally, producing more >M8 earthquakes over the last century than any other. Many of these earthquakes, as well as coastal and submarine landslides, create tsunamis. The region contains over 130 volcanoes and volcanic fields, and contains well over three-quarters of US volcanoes that have erupted in the last two hundred years. Alaska has more large earthquakes than the rest of the United States combined. More than three-quarters of the state's population lives in an area that can experience a magnitude 7 earthquake. The nation's coastlines are vulnerable to the interrelated hazards posed by earthquakes, landslides, and tsunamis. In the marine environment, these events often occur in concert, and distant triggers can cause severe local effects, making the issue global in scope. As the population continues to migrate toward the coastlines, the social impacts of these hazards are expected to grow.
Malay Mail
3 days ago
- Climate
- Malay Mail
Strong 7.3-magnitude quake hits off Alaska, tsunami alert withdrawn after minor sea rise
LOS ANGELES, July 17 — A 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of the US state of Alaska on yesterday, triggering a tsunami warning that was later withdrawn, the US Geological Survey said. The earthquake took place at approximately 12:37 local time (2037 GMT), with its epicenter located about 54 miles (87 kilometers) south of the island town of Sand Point, USGS said. The epicenter had a relatively shallow depth of 12.5 miles. Authorities initially issued a tsunami warning for South Alaska and the Alaska peninsula after the quake, but later downgraded it to a tsunami advisory, and then withdrew it entirely. 'The Tsunami Advisory is canceled for the coastal areas of South Alaska and the Alaska Peninsula,' said the National Tsunami Warning Center (NTWC) in a message issued about two hours after the earthquake. The initial quake was followed by a cluster of more than a dozen aftershocks, the largest of which was measured at 5.2-magnitude, according to USGS. The tsunami warning and advisory had only been issued for areas along the Alaskan coast, with areas further afield unaffected, the NTWC said. A tsunami with a maximum height of 0.2 feet (6.1 centimeters) was observed at Sand Point, it said. Nevertheless, the center advised residents in the affected zone to be aware of hazards. 'Do not re-occupy hazard zones until local emergency officials indicate it is safe to do so,' the NTWC said. Alaska is situated along the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire. The remote US state was hit by a 9.2-magnitude earthquake in March 1964, the strongest ever recorded in North America. It unleashed a tsunami that devastated the city of Anchorage and slammed the Gulf of Alaska, the US west coast, and Hawaii, killing scores and causing more than $400 million in property loss. A 7.2-magnitude quake hit off the Alaska peninsula in July 2023, with no major damage reported following the tremor. — AFP pic
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Tsunami advisory canceled after 7.2 magnitude earthquake off Alaska
A tsunami advisory for Alaska's southern peninsula has been canceled, after a major earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.2 initially prompted a tsunami warning earlier Wednesday. Videos posted to social media showed people in the town of Seward evacuating to higher ground after receiving a tsunami warning in the afternoon. The alert followed the earthquake that struck about 50 miles south of Sand Point, Alaska, at around 12:38 p.m. local time, according to the National Weather Service. Multiple aftershocks were reported near Sand Point, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The U.S. Coast Guard in Alaska said it was evacuating personnel at its base in Kodiak to higher ground, but later stood down the response after the threat passed. Authorities initially issued a tsunami warning and later downgraded it to an advisory, which warns people to stay out of the water and away from beaches and waterways. Dave Snider, a tsunami warning coordinator at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, told CBS affiliate KTUU-TV that large, widespread waves weren't expected. "The good news is this event happened in shallow water," Snider told KTUU. "We're not expecting to see a large inundation of water coming up on shore." The depth of the earthquake was approximately 12 miles, according to NOAA. The impacted areas spanned the Kennedy Entrance, a channel that connects the Gulf of Alaska to Cook Inlet, to Unimak Pass, which is just to the west of Unimak Island at the end of the peninsula. They may see small sea level changes, NWS Anchorage said. There was no danger to Anchorage, the state's most populous city. The quake was felt throughout the Alaska Peninsula and southern Alaska, the Alaska Earthquake Center said. Earlier in the day, a magnitude 5.2 earthquake also struck the region. It was located approximately 40 miles southeast of Atka Island, the earthquake center said. Alaska's southern coast is situated along the seismically active Pacific "Ring of Fire." The strongest earthquake ever recorded in North America occurred there in March 1964, when a 9.2-magnitude earthquake devastated Anchorage and unleashed a tsunami that killed more than 250 people. Son of man who was violently detained by ICE reacts after release Mike Johnson breaks from Trump, calls on DOJ to release Epstein files 7.3 magnitude earthquake hits southern Alaska
CBS News
3 days ago
- Climate
- CBS News
Tsunami warning downgraded to advisory after 7.2 magnitude earthquake near Alaska
A major earthquake off Alaska with a preliminary magnitude of 7.2 has prompted a tsunami advisory for the state's southern peninsula. The tsunami advisory was downgraded from an initial tsunami warning Wednesday afternoon after the earthquake struck about 50 miles south of Sand Point, Alaska, at around 12:38 p.m. local time, according to the National Weather Service. Multiple aftershocks have been reported near Sand Point, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Dave Snider, a tsunami warning coordinator at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, told CBS affiliate KTUU-TV that a tsunami has been confirmed and those along the southwestern coastline will still see some impact, but large, widespread waves aren't expected. "The good news is this event happened in shallow water," Snider told KTUU. "We're not expecting to see a large inundation of water coming up on shore." The depth of the earthquake was approximately 12 miles, according to NOAA. The impacted areas spanned the Kennedy Entrance, a channel that connects the Gulf of Alaska to Cook Inlet, to Unimak Pass, which is just to the west of Unimak Island at the end of the peninsula. There was no danger to Anchorage, the state's most populous city, as of 5:30 p.m. ET, NWS Anchorage said. The quake was felt throughout the Alaska Peninsula and southern Alaska, the Alaska Earthquake Center said. Earlier in the day, a magnitude 5.2 earthquake also struck the region. It was located approximately 40 miles southeast of Atka Island, the earthquake center said. Alaska's southern coast is situated along the seismically active Pacific "Ring of Fire." The strongest ever recorded earthquake in North America occurred there in March 1964, when a 9.2-magnitude earthquake devastated Anchorage and unleashed a tsunami that killed more than 250 people. This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
