16.07.2025 23:10

A tsunami advisory, initially issued following a significant 7.3 magnitude earthquake, was lifted Wednesday afternoon for a section of Alaska's Peninsula coastline. The National Weather Service (NWS) had earlier declared an "imminent" tsunami threat, prompting widespread concern.

The advisory covered the Alaskan Peninsula from Kennedy Entrance to Unimak Pass, encompassing towns such as Cold Bay, Sand Point, and Kodiak. It's important to note, however, that the affected area is largely sparsely populated, minimizing the potential impact on human life. The NWS confidently reassured residents of the Kenai Peninsula Borough that they were not at risk. Interestingly, despite the warning not applying to Anchorage, the state's largest city, many residents received mobile alerts, highlighting the wide reach of the warning system.

Reports of shaking reached as far as Anchorage, a considerable distance of approximately 800 miles from Sand Point, emphasizing the earthquake's power. The quake, occurring at a depth of 12.4 miles, added to the initial fear and uncertainty. Data from the United States Geological Survey, as analyzed by Earthquake Track, reveals this event to be one of the most significant seismic events in Alaska in recent times.

This powerful quake follows other major tremors in the region; 7.2 magnitude in 2023 and a 7.6 magnitude quake in 2021, both occurring near Sand Point, a small but significant commercial fishing center. Alaska's high seismic activity is attributed to numerous active fault lines and the Alaska-Aleutian Megathrust, a major subduction zone. This geological reality contributes to the frequent occurrence of powerful earthquakes in this area.