Tsunami Advisory Issued as 7.2 Magnitude Earthquake Rattles Southern Alaskan Coast
Late on Saturday, a powerful magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck off the coast of Alaska, leading to the issuance of a tsunami advisory, as confirmed by officials.
The earthquake originated about 55 miles southwest of Sand Point, Alaska, with a depth of 13 miles, according to the US Tsunami Warning Center. The seismic event occurred at 2:48 a.m. Eastern Time.
Initially, a brief tsunami warning was issued for certain areas near the Aleutian Islands in Alaska, spanning from Unimak Pass to Kennedy Entrance. However, it was later downgraded to a tsunami advisory. The advisory clarified that there is no tsunami threat to other Pacific coasts in the United States and Canada.
Video: The #Alaska #earthquake #Tsunami pic.twitter.com/K6hpgxuk8W
— CBKNEWS (@CBKNEWS121) July 16, 2023
Adding to the concerns, the Alaska Volcano Observatory reported an ash plume from the Shishaldin volcano earlier on Saturday through a social media post. As a result, the observatory issued a threat notice for the volcano. Currently, a “watch” is in effect for Shishaldin volcano, with seismic tremor magnitudes showing an increase since approximately 5 p.m. local time.