Tsunami warning ends after early morning Alaska earthquake

Tsunami warning ends after early morning Alaska earthquake

CHINIAK, ALASKA — After a tsunami warning was issued for coastal British Columbia and parts of Alaska following a powerful earthquake Tuesday morning, authorities have lifted all advisories, saying that there is no longer a threat.

The magnitude 7.9 quake occurred at 12:31 a.m. local time about 170 miles off Alaska. There were no immediate reports of damage.

A small tsunami with a wave height of less than eight inches was generated by this event, said the United States National Tsunami Warning, but by 4 a.m. the tsunami advisory was lifted.

Immediately after the earthquake, tsunami sirens started blaring in Kodiak, with an alert issued on Tsunami.gov that read: “Evacuate inland or to higher ground above and beyond designated tsunami hazard zones or move to an upper floor of a multistory building depending on your situation. Move out of the water, off the beach, and away from harbors, marinas, breakwaters, bays and inlets.”

The entire B.C. coast was put on a tsunami watch, including Tofino where warning sirens were activated. Residents were evacuated to local reception centres.

Environment Canada said the tsunami warning covered the Central Coast and Northeast Vancouver Island coast, while Emergency Info BC also reported a tsunami warning was in effect for the Juan de Fuca Strait coast, the outer west coast of Vancouver Island and Haida Gwaii. Vancouver was not included in the warning.

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