A strong earthquake off the southern coast of Alaska shook communities along a 700-mile stretch on Wednesday, prompting residents to move to higher ground. The quake, measuring magnitude 7.3, struck just south of Sand Point on Popof Island in the Aleutian chain around 12:37 p.m. local time. Fortunately, no major damage was reported, and the tsunami warning initially issued was quickly downgraded and then canceled.
The Alaska Earthquake Center recorded more than 40 aftershocks within three hours after the main tremor. While the region is used to earthquakes, officials took the event seriously and followed safety procedures to alert affected communities. The earthquake was felt as far away as Anchorage, nearly 600 miles to the northeast.
The National Tsunami Warning Center had warned an area from about 40 miles southwest of Homer to Unimak Pass to prepare for a possible tsunami, covering a 700-mile stretch that includes Kodiak, a town with around 5,200 residents. About an hour after the warning was issued, it was downgraded to an advisory and then canceled shortly before 2:45 p.m. The highest water rise in Sand Point was just under 2.5 inches above the tide, posing no real threat.
Sand Point’s police chief, Benjamin Allen, said there was no noticeable damage to key places like the airport or harbor. The only reported harm was at a local store where the earthquake knocked over bottles in the alcohol aisle, leaving a strong smell of spilled liquids. Store manager Vickey McDonald described the scene as having broken items like liquid smoke and barbecue sauce scattered on the floor.
Nearby coastal towns such as Unalaska and King Cove took precautionary measures, asking people in low-lying areas to move uphill or farther inland until the threat passed. In Seward, visitors at the Alaska SeaLife Center were advised to evacuate to higher ground but were told it was safe after about half an hour.
Officials reassured people along the broader U.S. and Canadian Pacific coasts that no tsunami threat existed for those regions. Alaska’s southern coast is known for its earthquake activity, and this was the fifth quake above magnitude 7 in nearly the same area since 2020. State seismologist Michael West said these events seem to be connected, indicating ongoing movement beneath the earth’s surface.
While no major destruction happened this time, experts remind everyone that this region can still experience large quakes and tsunamis capable of causing serious damage. For now, residents are breathing a sigh of relief.