Huge Earthquake Strikes Off Alaska, Major Tsunami Warning Issued
Powerful 8.2 magnitude earthquake recorded, residents urged to reach high ground
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A huge earthquake has just struck off the coast of Alaska, triggering major tsunami warnings for residents in the Alaskan southeast and Hawaii, according to breaking reports.
The powerful 8.2 magnitude shallow quake hit 56 miles (91 kilometers) southeast of the town of Perryville, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) said in a statement.
A tsunami warning is now in effect for south Alaska and the Alaskan peninsula, with residents urged to try and reach higher ground.
Authorities in Hawaii also issued a tsunami watch as the US government issued a tsunami warning for Alaska's southeast.
"Hazardous tsunami waves for this earthquake are possible within the next three hours along some coasts," the US Tsunami Warning System said in a statement.
According to the USGS, the quake hit on Wednesday 28 July 2021 at 10.15 pm local time at a very shallow depth of four miles.
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The US Tsunami Warning System has issued a tsunami warning for the US Pacific territories of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands.
They said: "Based on all available data a tsunami may have been generated by this earthquake that could be destructive on coastal areas even far from the epicenter.
"An investigation is underway to determine if there is a tsunami threat to Hawaii."
Notable quake, preliminary info: M 7.2 - 106 km SE of Perryville, Alaska https://t.co/6iOHRcfQF9
— USGS Earthquakes (@USGS_Quakes) July 29, 2021
We have reviewed a M8.2 EQ 65 miles S of Perryville at 10:15 pm AKST. This event was felt throughout the Alaska Peninsula and Kodiak. For more information and to submit DYFI reports, please go to https://t.co/eyDYAW4cKo
— Alaska Earthquake Center (@AKearthquake) July 29, 2021
A reporter in Alaska tweeted that tsunami sirens are also blaring in Kodiak.
A police spokeswoman told Fox News that authorities are urging residents to evacuate due to the tsunami threat.
The National Weather Service in Los Angeles said the Tsunami Warning Center in Palmer, Alaska, is "evaluating the potential for a tsunami for the west coast from California to Washington State."
New Zealand’s National Emergency Management Agency tweeted that it is also assessing the situation and said if a tsunami is generated, it will likely take about 12 hours to reach the island.
The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake hit 56 miles east southeast of Perryville, Alaska.
Two other earthquakes with preliminary magnitudes of 6.2 and 5.6 occurred in the same area within half an hour of the first one, the U.S. Geological Survey reported.
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The potential tsunami wave in Hawaii is estimated to arrive on Thursday morning local time, according to the Star Advertiser.
šØ#BREAKING: The 8.2 earthquake is the largest to strike the United States since 1965
— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) July 29, 2021
š#Alaska l #US
Warning sirens are now blaring along the Alaskan coastline as waves approach.
The Tsunami Warning System is still calculating possible further risks to the Hawaiian Islands pic.twitter.com/rzzVI4txUD
#Kodiak #Alaska as of 10 minutes ago... sirens and evacuations #earthquake #tsunami pic.twitter.com/BfdjAzqGcj
— šŗšø*SkyQueen*šŗšø āļøšāļø (@Triquetra331) July 29, 2021
A 7.5 magnitude earthquake caused tsunami waves in Alaska's southern coast in October, but no casualties were reported.
Alaska is part of the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire.
Alaska was hit by a 9.2-magnitude earthquake in March 1964, the strongest ever recorded in North America.
It devastated Anchorage and unleashed a tsunami that slammed the Gulf of Alaska, the US west coast, and Hawaii.
More than 250 people were killed by the quake and the tsunami.
