A major 7.3 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Alaska, triggering a tsunami alert for thousands of residents.
The US Geological Survey (USGS) recorded the quake at approximately 12:38pm local time (4:30 PM ET), centered in the Pacific Ocean just south of the Alaska Peninsula near the Shumagin Islands, southeast of Sand Point.
The advisory covers coastal areas of southwestern Alaska, including communities from Kennedy Entrance near Homer to Unimak Pass near Unalaska.
There are potential impacts on Kodiak Island, the Alaska Peninsula, and parts of the eastern Aleutian Islands.
While sparse, this region is home to an thousands of people who were alert through the sound of blaring sirens and text message notifications.
Residents along Alaska’s coastline raced to higher ground, abandoning their homes after officials urged immediate evacuation.
Dramatic images show an eerily bare shoreline, the ocean having suddenly vanished, a chilling sign that a tsunami could be moments away.
The USGS earthquake tracker shows an explosion of aftershocks near the epicenter, ranging in magnitude from a 5.2 to 2.7.
The tsunami could hit coastal areas of southwestern Alaska, including communities from Kennedy Entrance near Homer to Unimak Pass near Unalaska, with potential impact on Kodiak Island, the Alaska Peninsula and parts of the eastern Aleutian Islands
The US Tsunami Center said the warning was in effect from about 40 miles southwest of Homer (pictured) to Unimak Pass, a distance of about 700 miles.
