7.3 magnitude earthquake hits Alaska coast, tsunami advisory cancelled

The Alaska Peninsula in the USA was hit by a 7.3 magnitude earthquake on the afternoon of July 16, leading to a tsunami warning for the southern coast. The authorities had directed communities to move inland towards the higher coast. According to the U.S Geological Survey, the earthquake was recorded at 12:37 local time, southeast of Sand Point, a community located on Popof Island in the Aleutian Chain. 

"It was felt throughout the Alaska peninsula and the Southern Peninsula", as stated by the Alaska Earthquake Center. The tsunami warning was initially issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for the majority of the Alaska Peninsula. Later on, the alert was put on as an advisory by 1:50 pm local time. It was for the coastal areas from the Kennedy entrance (40 km southwest of Homer) to Unimak Pass. 

The cities impacted are Cold Bay, Sand Point, and Kodiak. A potentially dangerous coastal flood was also warned of, advising citizens to move towards the higher coast. The advisory was later cancelled around 2:43 pm local time, according to the National Tsunami Warning Center. Sharing an update, it said, "Tsunami cancellations indicate the end of the damaging tsunami threat. A cancellation is issued after an evaluation of sea level data confirms that a destructive tsunami will not impact the alerted region, or after tsunami levels have subsided to non-damaging levels." 

The aftershocks near Sand Point

According to the Alaska Earthquake Center, an earthquake of 7.3 magnitude was recorded 55 miles to the south of Sand Point, located at a depth of 9 miles. With additional data, the magnitude and location might change slightly. An earthquake with a magnitude between 7.0 and 7.9 can cause serious damage, with only 10 to 15 of this kind reported each year. 

Multiple aftershocks were recorded near Sand Point. This includes a 5.2 magnitude earthquake, about 66 miles away to the south or southeast of the community. The Alaska Earthquake Center said, "So far, there have been at least 20 aftershocks for the M7.3 earthquake south of Sand Point. Five of them have been above magnitude 4." 

The tsunami alert is not a threat to the capital city. Also, not affecting the coasts of Hawaii and Washington.