7.2 magnitude earthquake hits Alaska coast as tsunami warning issued

An earthquake of magnitude 7.2 struck the Alaska Peninsula region early on Sunday morning, with a tsunami warning issued but later withdrawn.

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the quake occurred at depth of 32.6 km (20.3 miles) and was relatively shallow.

The U.S. Tsunami Warning System issued a tsunami warning for regions of the Pacific located close to the earthquake but this was lifted a few hours later.

The Alaska Earthquake Centre said the event was felt widely throughout the Aleutian Islands, the Alaskan Peninsula, and Cook Inlet regions.

In a statement, the National Tsunami Warning Center said: “Tsunami warning in effect for South Alaska and the Alaska Peninsula, Pacific coasts from Kennedy Entrance, Alaska (40 miles SW of Homer) to Unman Pass, Alaska (80 miles NE of Unalaska).


“For other US and Canadian Pacific coasts in North America, the level of tsunami danger is being evaluated.

“Further information will be provided in supplementary messages.”

There were no immediate reports of damage or casualties although a few Twitter accounts posted videos of tsunami sirens and strong tremors being felt.

The Alaska Volcano Observatory also provided another threat notice for the Shishaldin volcano after it sent up a big plume of ash.

“The explosive eruption of Shishaldin Volcano is continuing,” they said on Twitter. “A continuous ash plume now extends over 80 mi (125 km) to the SSE from the volcano with an altitude of about 16,000 ft.”

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