Alaska’s powerful 7.3 magnitude earthquake triggered a tsunami warning

Alaska’s Aleutian Islands were shaken by a powerful 7.3 magnitude earthquake on Wednesday (16 July) which prompted a tsunami warning and calls for coastal residents to get to higher ground. Officials later confirm there was no significant damage or injuries. So, what happened? (Picture: Getty)

What happened?

The tremor hit a seismically active region which has seen several strong quakes in the past five years. This includes a similar event that happened almost two years ago, which also initially triggered fears of a large wave. However, around half an hour after the warning was issued this week, the tsunami warning was downgraded (Picture: Getty)

What did theNational Tsunami Warning Center say?

Those living within a 700-mile stretch of Alaska's southern coast were advised to evacuate. The National Tsunami Warning Center reported the maximum wave height at Sand Point - 55 miles north of the epicentre - was 10 centimetres high, occurring at low tide (Picture: Getty)

Jeremy Zidek, a spokesperson with the state's emergency management division, explained why a tsunami warning was announced. Speaking to CBC, he said: 'We have seen other earthquakes in the area that have not generated significant tsunami waves, but we're treating it seriously and going through our procedures, making sure communities are notified so they can activate their evacuation procedures' (Picture: Getty Images)

The earthquake occurred at 12:37pm local time, prompting the tsunami warning. People in warning areas can receive alerts including the sounding of sirens in communities that have them. However, the warning issued by the center was downgraded to an advisory before being canceled around 2:45pm (stock image) (Picture: Getty)

The roughly 870 residents in King Cove, located in Aleutians East Borough, had an alert calling on those in the coastal areas to move to higher ground, and people in Unalaska, located on the islands with a population of around 4,100, were urged to move at least 50 feet above sea level, 1 mile inland (Picture: Getty)

Does Alaska get a lot of earthquakes?

Alaska is the most earthquake prone state in the US, and the US Geological Survey says that it is one of the most seismically active regions in the world. Alaska experiences a magnitude 7 earthquake almost every year, and the second-largest earthquake ever recorded was centered about 75 miles east of Anchorage. The 1964 magnitude 9.2 earthquake, and the tsunami that was triggered, killed around 130 people (Picture: Getty)

Mr Zidek said to The Independent that people should heed warnings He explained that some communities have buildings designated on higher ground as meet-up points during tsunami warnings, such as a school, while others might simply urge residents to retreat up a hillside. He said: ‘If it shakes violently for 20 seconds or more, that is your warning sign, and you should head to higher ground if you’re in a coastal area’ (Picture: Getty)