Powerful 7.3 Earthquake Triggers Rare Tsunami Alert Off Alaska Coast

Powerful 7.3 Earthquake Triggers Tsunami Alert Off Alaska Coast

A rare tsunami warning was briefly issued Wednesday after a powerful magnitude 7.3 earthquake struck off the coast of Alaska. The quake was centered about 54 miles south of Sand Point in the Aleutian Islands, a geologically active region prone to both earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

The earthquake occurred at approximately 12:37 p.m. local time and was measured at a depth of 12 miles, according to data from the U.S. Geological Survey.

In the immediate aftermath, a tsunami warning was issued for parts of the Alaska coast, stretching from Kennedy Entrance to Unimak Pass. Coastal communities including Kodiak Island, Chignik, and Cold Bay were placed on alert. The U.S. Coast Guard temporarily evacuated personnel from its Kodiak base as a precaution.

A tsunami wave measuring 0.2 feet—around 3 inches—was observed at Sand Point. Several ocean buoys registered changes in wave activity, entering "tsunami mode" to signal the presence of a possible sea disturbance.