Tsunami warnings canceled after massive earthquake off Alaska triggers threat for US coastline
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the earthquake happened at 12:37 p.m. local time and was pinpointed roughly 54 miles from Sand Point, Alaska, centered about 12 miles deep.
Just after the quake, NOAA's National Tsunami Warning Center issued Tsunami Warnings for the immediate Alaska coastline from Kennedy Entrance to Unimak Pass, including all of Kodiak Island, Chignik and Cold Bay. The U.S. Coast Guard reported it evacuated personnel from its base at Kodiak to higher ground and had two air crews stand ready to assist.
The agency initially said a tsunami of up to about a foot was possible and alerted those inside the warning that some local impacts could be expected.
However, the warning was downgraded to an advisory a little over an hour later as the threat waned, then eventually canceled. A buoy measured a small tsunami at Sand Point, sensing a water rise of just 0.2 feet, or about 3 inches, according to NOAA.
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"A tsunami was generated by this event, but no longer poses a threat," the Tsunami Warning Center said. "Some areas may continue to see small sea level changes."
There are no initial reports of any damage from either the quake or tsunami.
"The entire southern coast of Alaska is a gigantic earthquake zone," said Michael West, seismologist with the Alaska Earthquake Center. "Four out of five earthquakes in the United States happen in Alaska."
West said earthquakes happen frequently in that area, though not all of them are as large or even felt at all.
"Early signs suggest we're on the lucky side today," he said.
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Tsunamis are a series of dangerous waves that can occur after massive movements in terrain, such as earthquakes or landslides.
West said seismologists and the Tsunami Warning Center will continue to gather data on the quake.Original article source: Tsunami warnings canceled after massive earthquake off Alaska triggers threat for US coastline
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