Huge quake of magnitude 8.2 on Alaska Peninsula triggers tsunami warnings

Huge quake of magnitude 8.2 on Alaska Peninsula triggers tsunami warnings

Via CNBC.com:

A strong and shallow earthquake of magnitude 8.2 struck the Alaskan peninsula late on Wednesday, prompting tsunami warnings in the U.S. state and heightened surveillance across the pacific.

There were no immediate reports of loss of property or life. Tsunami warning sirens were sounded close to a Walmart store in Kodiak, Alaska, a video filmed by a local resident and obtained by Reuters showed.

The U.S. National Tsunami Warning Center (NTWC) issued alerts for southern parts of Alaska, the volcanic peninsula itself, and Pacific coastal areas from Hinchinbrook entrance to Unimak pass.

Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy tweeted that the state’s emergency operation center had been activated and authorities were contacting communities in the tsunami warning areas.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said the quake, which struck at 10:15 p.m. local time (0615 GMT Thursday), was at a depth of 35 km.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC) said it had cancelled warnings of possible tsunami threats issued to Hawaii and the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam.

The NTWC said it was evaluating the level of tsunami danger for other U.S. and Canadian Pacific coastal areas.

There is no risk of tsunami damaging the Japanese coast after a magnitude 8.2 earthquake struck the Alaska Peninsula, the Japanese public broadcaster NHK said on Thursday, though it said there might be small changes to tide levels.

Authorities in New Zealand also said they were assessing if there was any danger to coastal regions.

The tremor struck about 91 km east-southeast of Perryville in Alaska. It was about 800 km (500 miles) from Anchorage, Alaska’s biggest city. The National Weather Service tweeted that there was no tsunami threat to Anchorage.

The USGS added that the quake was followed by eight aftershocks in the region, with two above magnitude 6.0.