A powerful 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck southern Alaska late Saturday, triggering a brief tsunami advisory that was later canceled. The earthquake was felt across the Aleutian Islands, the Alaskan Peninsula, and Cook Inlet regions, causing alarm and prompting residents to seek shelter. While the earthquake raised concerns of a potential tsunami, monitoring bodies swiftly reassured the public that the threat had passed.
The United States Geological Survey reported that the earthquake occurred 106 kilometers (65.8 miles) south of Sand Point, Alaska, at 10:48 p.m. Saturday. Initially reported as a 7.4 magnitude quake, it was later downgraded to 7.2. The U.S. National Weather Service issued a tsunami advisory, stating that the earthquake had a depth of 13 miles (21 kilometers). However, the advisory was canceled approximately an hour after the initial alert, bringing relief to the affected communities.
Videos shared on social media showed sirens blaring in Kodiak, Alaska, as residents hurried to designated shelters in the late hours of the night. The National Weather Service in Anchorage tweeted that the tsunami advisory applied to coastal Alaska from Chignik Bay to Unimak Pass, but reassured that Kodiak Island and the Kenai Peninsula were not expected to be affected. The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency also confirmed that there was no threat to the islands.
Following the main earthquake, the region experienced an estimated eight aftershocks, including one measuring 5.0 magnitude within three minutes of the initial quake. Local emergency officials advised residents not to reoccupy hazard zones without proper clearance. While small sea level changes were still possible, the situation was deemed under control.
Alaska, known for its high seismic activity, experiences thousands of earthquakes each year. Most of these earthquakes are too deep and too small to be felt. The state holds the record for the second-largest earthquake ever recorded, a magnitude 9.2 quake in Prince William Sound in 1964. The recent earthquake occurred in the same region as several other significant earthquakes in the past few years, according to the Alaska Earthquake Center.
