7.3 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Alaska and Tsunami Warnings Trigger State of Emergency

An earthquake measuring 7.3 on the Richter scale struck off the coast of the US state of Alaska late on Wednesday night, according to the US Geological Survey.

The earthquake occurred at 12:37 local time, with its epicenter at a depth of 20.1 kilometers and about 87 kilometers south of the town of Sand Point in southern Alaska.

Following the earthquake, the Palmer _ Alaska Tsunami Warning Center issued an alert covering wide areas of southern Alaska and the peninsula, specifically from Kenai Entrance (about 64 km southwest of Homer) to Unimak Pass (about 128 km northeast of Unalaska).

Authorities advised residents to evacuate coastal areas immediately, avoid beaches, ports, and marinas, and stay away from bays and sea outlets.

Later, the warning level was downgraded to "Advisory," and the warning center confirmed that there were no indications of tsunami waves in distant regions.

Alaska is located within the "Ring of Fire" region in the Pacific Ocean, known for its high seismic and volcanic activity.

In March 1964, the state experienced the most powerful earthquake ever recorded in North America, measuring 9.2 on the Richter scale, causing significant damage in the city of Anchorage. It also triggered a tsunami that hit the Gulf of Alaska, the western coast of the United States, and Hawaii, resulting in the deaths of dozens of people and losses exceeding $400 million.

In July 2023, another earthquake of 7.2 magnitude struck the same region, without causing major damage at that time.