8.2 magnitude earthquake shook Alaskan coast

• The Alaskan coast was struck by an 8.2 magnitude earthquake on Wednesday night — its strongest quake since 1964.
• A tsunami warning was promptly issued but was later canceled.
• There is no current tsunami threat but residents have been advised to evacuate to higher ground.

An 8.2 magnitude earthquake shook the Alaskan coast on Wednesday night, making it the strongest quake since 1964, an official told CNN.

According to the US Geological Survey, the quake occurred at around 10:15 p.m. Wednesday at about 56 miles (91 kilometers) east southeast of Perryville, Alaska.

The Alaska Earthquake Center reported that the tremors were felt throughout the Alaska Peninsula and Kodiak.

The earthquake is “considered shallow,” however, at 29 miles deep (46.7 km).

The USGS reported at least two strong aftershocks, including a preliminary magnitude 6.2 and magnitude 5.6.

Shortly after the quake, a tsunami warning was issued for parts of the state. It was later canceled for the coastal areas of South Alaska and the Alaska Peninsula and Aleutian Islands, according to the National Tsunami Warning Center.

The center stated, “A tsunami was generated by this event, but no longer poses a threat.”

In an email to CNN, Kodiak Mayor Pat Branson wrote, “We are now all clear and anxiously awaited for any announcement about a wave hitting (our) island. The Emergency Operations Council was up and working monitoring and informing the public of any updates. Citizens did (evacuate).”

“This was the strongest earthquake since 1964 and our 3rd evacuation in 18 months,” Branson continued. “But we are all good and grateful now.”

Residents of Kodiak, the largest town on the island of Kodiak, were advised to evacuate to higher ground. Officials have opened the high school as an evacuation center.

Kodiak Island is the largest island in Alaska and the second-largest island in the US. The town of Kodiak is located near the island’s northwestern tip.

The Kodiak Police Department stated that the tsunami warning for “Kodiak has been downgraded to Tsunami Advisory status however we are not all clear.”

The National Weather Service Pacific Tsunami Warning Center stated, “Based on all available data there is no tsunami threat.”

The tsunami watch issued for Hawaii has been canceled, but the level of tsunami danger is still being evaluated for other US and Canadian Pacific coasts in North America, the NWS reported.

Source: CNN