Alaska earthquake: Residents forced to evacuate after major quake strikes near coast

Follow the day’s events as they happened

People evacuate as tsunami sirens blare in Alaska

Tsunami warnings were issued after a 8.2 earthquake struck off the coast of Alaska.

The warnings - affecting coastal regions of the US state and the Pacific region - were lifted hours later.

Authorities said the quake - which was recorded at 10:15 pm on Wednesday local time (6.15am GMT Thursday) - struck under the surface of the ocean off the coast of Alaska.

There were no immediate reports of injuries or damage to property, although several Alaskan coastal communities were evacuated following the earthquake.

Key Points

• Tsunami warning as 8.2-magnitude tremor strikes off Alaskan coast
• Tsunami sirens blare in Alaska
• Countries investigate potential tsunami threat

[29 July 2021 11:43 · Zoe Tidman]

‘No significant tsunami is expected

Authorities have said “no significant tsunami is expected” as they told US West Coast residents that there will be no further alerts:

[29 July 2021 11:52 · Zoe Tidman]

Tsunami warnings lifted

Tsunami warnings were lifted for Alaska and the rest of Pacific after a huge earthquake of 8.2 magnitude struck the seismically active U.S. state in the late hours on Wednesday.

In Alaska, small tsunami waves measuring under a foot above tide level were observed in Sand Point, Old Harbor, King Cove, Kodiak, Unalaska and Alitak Bay, according to the US National Tsunami Warning Center (NTWC).

But authorities said no “significant” tsunami was expected, as warnings for coastal areas of Alaska and Hawaii were lifted.

Additional reporting by Reuters

[29 July 2021 12:01 · Zoe Tidman]

Communities evacuated in Alaska

After the earthquake struck several hours ago, there have been no immediate reports of injuries or damage to property.

Several Alaskan coastal communities were evacuated following the quake.

Among them was Seward on the Kenai Peninsula, south of Anchorage, where sirens blared and residents were told to move to higher ground.

Additional reporting by Reuters

[29 July 2021 12:15 · Zoe Tidman]

That is all from us for today. Thanks for following.

[29 July 2021 12:19 · Zoe Tidman]