The US Tsunami Warning System has issued a warning for the parts of Alaska and Canada after a strong earthquake hit off the area. The US Tsunami Warning System also issued a tsunami watch for the whole US west coast and Hawaii. The center also said that the tsunami could be destructive for the coastal areas that are far from the quake epicenter.
#BREAKING: #Tsunami warnings and watches current after massive #Alaska earthquake. No warning for #Australia. pic.twitter.com/zkGiAcycSy
— Jake Smethurst (@JakeSmethurst3) 23 января 2018 г.
— Dave Baker (@GMA_Weather) 23 января 2018 г.
#BreakingNews — Tsunami Watch in effect for California after a prelim M8.2 earthquake off southern Alaska coast. pic.twitter.com/xLFP8uKyTN
— Rebecca Strom (@Rebecca_Strom) 23 января 2018 г.
A powerful 8.2 magnitude earthquake struck off southeast of Chiniak, Alaska, at 0931 GMT on Tuesday, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). The previous magnitude stood at 8.0.
Media reports suggested that the quake occurred within the oceanic Pacific plate.
READ MORE: Magnitude 6.0 Quake Hits Ecuador — US Geological Survey
Current location estimate of magnitude~8 offshore Alaska earthquake 10 mins ago seems to indicate that it occurred within the oceanic Pacific plate before it subducts at the trench. Possibly a normal faulting event? Significant tsunami risk. pic.twitter.com/G5BL1HwLi3
— Stephen Hicks (@seismo_steve) 23 января 2018 г.
According to the geological service, the earthquake's epicenter was located at the depth of 10 kilometers (6 miles) around 281 kilometers (175 miles) away from the city of Kodiak, located on the southern Kodiak Island.
Alert — M8 Earthquake off the Alaska Coast has made a tsunami. It is expected to hit Hawaii within ~4 hours. Size unknown.
— Ben (@TheRealS0s) 23 января 2018 г.
Later in the day, the tsunami watch, issued for the Hawaii State after a powerful earthquake hit waters off Alaska earlier in the day, has been canceled.
In 1964, Alaska was hit by the so-called Great Alaskan earthquake and Good Friday 9.2-magnitude earthquake, which claimed the lives of 139 people. It was the strongest recorded earthquake in North America.
