7.3 Magnitude Quake Shakes Region
A powerful 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck southern Alaska on Wednesday, triggering mass evacuations along the coastline.
The U.S. Geological Survey recorded the quake at 12:38 p.m. local time (4:30 p.m. ET), with the epicenter located in the Pacific Ocean near the Shumagin Islands, southeast of Sand Point and close to the Alaska Peninsula.
Emergency War.nings Prompt Swift Action
Alarms blared and cellphones buzzed as emergency notifications urged people from the Kennedy Entrance near Homer to Unimak Pass by Unalaska to head inland or to a higher elevation.
Homer’s mayor, Rachel Lord, described the situation: “We heard reports of bumper-to-bumper traffic early on, as people rushed to evacuate the spit.”
Tsunami Alerts Issued, Then Downgraded
Authorities initially issued tsunami warnings for coastal areas including Kodiak Island, the Alaska Peninsula, and the eastern Aleutians. Photos from affected regions showed empty shorelines and receding water levels—an ominous sign of a possible tsunami.
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