A major 7.5 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Alaska, sparking a tsunami alert for thousands of Americans.
The US Geological Survey (USGS) detected the quake around 12:38pm local time (4:30pm ET), hitting in the Pacific Ocean just south of the Alaska Peninsula, near the Shumagin Islands, southeast of Sand Point.
The tsunami could hit coastal areas of southwestern Alaska, including communities from Kennedy Entrance near Homer to Unimak Pass near Unalaska, with potential impact on Kodiak Island, the Alaska Peninsula and parts of the eastern Aleutian Islands.
While sparse, this region is home to an thousands of people who were alert through the sound of blaring sirens and text message notifications.
‘If you are located in this coastal area, move inland to higher ground,’ the National Tsunami Warning Center (NTWC)said in the alert.
‘Tsunami warnings mean that a tsunami with significant inundation is possible or is already occurring.
‘Tsunamis are a series of waves dangerous many hours after initial arrival time. This first wave may not be the largest.’
Another 4.4 magnitude earthquake was detected about one hour later, just miles from the epicenter, and another 4.0 magnitude near Halibut Cove that is home to around 200 people.
This is a developing story… More updates to come
The tsunami could hit coastal areas of southwestern Alaska, including communities from Kennedy Entrance near Homer to Unimak Pass near Unalaska, with potential impact on Kodiak Island, the Alaska Peninsula and parts of the eastern Aleutian Islands
The National Weather Service (NWS)issued a statement, saying there is no threat to Oregon, Washington or other US states.
However, the NWS is urging Alaskans to move out of the water, off the beach, and away from harbors, marinas, breakwaters, bays and inlets.
‘If you feel a strong earthquake or extended ground rolling take immediate protective actions such as moving inland and/or uphill preferably by foot,’ the agency added.
The US Tsunami Center said the warning was in effect from about 40 miles southwest of Homer to Unimak Pass, a distance of about 700 miles.
Kodiak, with a population of 5,200, is one of the larger communities in the area.
Officials in the community of King Cove, which has about 870 residents and is on the south side of the Alaska Peninsula, sent an alert calling on those in the coastal area to move to higher ground.
The last time Alaska experienced a quake of this magnitude was in 1996, when a 7.2 hit on June 10, 1996, centered in the Andreanof Islands of the Aleutian chain.
The strongest earthquake to ever hit Alaska, and also the strongest in US history, was the 1964 Great Alaska Earthquake, which registered a magnitude of 9.2.
A magnitude 3.0 earthquake struck Virginia today, with the epicenter located about five miles south of the town of Dillwyn in Buckingham County
This massive earthquake occurred near Prince William Sound and was felt as far away as Seattle.
The event also triggered devastating tsunamis, causing damage to coastal areas in Alaska, Oregon, California, Hawaii and even Japan.
