Late on Saturday local time, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported a 7.2 magnitude earthquake occurring off the Alaskan peninsula, triggering a brief tsunami warning.
Initially, the USGS recorded the quake as a magnitude 7.4, but later revised it downwards.
The shallow earthquake struck at 10:48 pm on Saturday approximately 55 miles, southwest of the small town of Sand Point, according to the agency.
The National Tsunami Warning Center in Palmer, Alaska, subsequently canceled a previous tsunami advisory for southern Alaska and the Alaskan peninsula, stating that it no longer posed a threat.
The earthquake generated minor tsunami waves, measuring around six inches (15 centimeters) above tide level, observed at Sand Point and King Cove.
While the event did generate a tsunami, it is no longer considered a threat. Nevertheless, some areas might experience slight changes in sea level.
Alaska is situated within the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire, where earthquakes are frequent.
In March 1964, the state was struck by a massive 9.2-magnitude earthquake, the most powerful ever recorded in North America. It caused extensive damage in Anchorage and triggered a devastating tsunami that affected the Gulf of Alaska, the west coast of the United States, and Hawaii. The earthquake and subsequent tsunami claimed the lives of over 250 individuals.
