Tsunami warning as huge 7.3-magnitude earthquake strikes off Alaska’s coast

US officials have issued a tsunami warning for Alaska after the state’s southwestern coast was rocked by a 7.3 magnitude earthquake.

The quake struck southwest of Sand Point at 11.48pm PDT (06.48am UTC) on Saturday.

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.”

An emergency alert sent to the phones of residents warned that “powerful waves” could hit the southwestern Alaskan coast because of the strong earthquake.

The alert read: “The National Weather Service has issued a tsunami warning. A series of powerful waves and strong currents may impact costs near you. You are in danger.

“Get away from coastal waters. Move to high ground or inland now. Keep away from the coast until local officials say it is safe to return.”

According to early data from the US Geological Survey, the epicentre of the earthquake was located 106 kilometres south of Sand Point, which has a population of 1,000. The source was at a depth of 6.11 kilometres.

The areas affected by the alert include the Kodiak Islands, which are home to more than 13,000 people, the southern Kanai Peninsula, home to 59,767 people according to the 2021 census, and the Alaska Peninsula.

According to the Alaskan Earthquake Center, the ripples of the quake were felt widely across the Aleutian Islands, the Alaskan Peninsula and the Cook Inlet regions.

The Center said seismic activity in the area is the result of the multi-faceted tectonic features that characterize the area.

They said: “The Aleutian-Alaska Benioff zone produces thousands of earthquakes each year, most of which are too deep and too small to be felt.

“The most notable examples of such earthquakes are the 1999 M7.0 and 2001 M6.9 Kodiak Island events.

“Both events caused damage and disruption to the City of Kodiak and other communities on the island.”