UPDATE: 6:49 a.m.
UNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A powerful earthquake sparked a tsunami warning
for hundreds of miles of Alaskan and Canadian coastline, but the alert
was canceled when no damaging waves were generated.
The magnitude 7.5 quake did generate a tsunami, but the Alaska Tsunami Warning Center said the waves didn't pose a threat.
The temblor struck at midnight Friday (1 a.m. PST Saturday) and was
centered about 60 miles west of Craig, Alaska, the U.S. Geological
Survey said.
The tsunami followed minutes later and was eventually expanded to
include coastal areas from Cape Fairweather, Alaska, to the northern tip
of Vancouver Island, Canada — an area extending more than 700 miles.
A center had warned that "significant widespread inundation of land
is expected," adding that dangerous coastal flooding was possible.
In its cancellation statement, the center said that some areas were seeing just small sea level changes.
"A tsunami was generated during this event but no longer poses a threat," the center said.
After one community reported seeing just a small wave, the police in
the coastal town of Cordova said they had no reports of any problems.
The Alaska Earthquake Information Center said the quake was widely felt but it received no reports of any damage.
In addition to the warning, a tsunami advisory was briefly in effect
for some Alaska coastal areas to the north of the warning zone, as well
as to the south of the zone, from the Washington state border to the
northern tip of Vancouver Island.
A tsunami warning means an area is likely to be hit by a wave, while
an advisory means there may be strong currents, but that widespread
inundation is not expected to occur.
--------------------------------------
UPDATE: 6.:20 a.m.
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — Officials have canceled a tsunami warning for parts of southern Alaska and coastal Canada.
The Alaska Tsunami Warning Center says a tsunami was generated by a
strong earthquake, but the waves don't pose a threat to the areas.
The center says some areas are seeing small sea level changes, but
there will be no widespread destructive wave that had earlier been
warned about.
The warning area included coastal areas from Cape Fairweather,
Alaska, to the north tip of Vancouver Island, Canada. The area extended
for more than 700 miles.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
--------------------------------------------------------------
A tsunami warning is in effect for parts of southern Alaska and
coastal Canada after a strong earthquake shook the region at midnight
Friday.
The warning area includes coastal areas from about 75 miles southeast
of Cordova, Alaska, to the north tip of Vancouver Island, Canada, the
Alaska Tsunami Warning Center said. The warning area extends for about
475 miles.
The magnitude 7.5 quake struck at midnight Friday (1 a.m. PST
Saturday) and was centered about 60 miles west of Craig, Alaska, the
U.S. Geological Survey said.
A tsunami with a "significant widespread inundation of land is expected," the center said in a statement.
The first wave was expected around 1:15 a.m. (2:15 a.m. PST) in Craig, and 2:50 a.m. in Cordova, further to the north.
The center said widespread dangerous coastal flooding is possible.
In addition to the warning, a tsunami advisory is in effect for
coastal Alaska from Cape Suckling to 75 miles southeast of Cordova and
from the Washington state border to the tip of Vancouver Island.
A tsunami warning means an area is likely to be hit by a wave, while
an advisory means there may be strong currents, but that widespread
inundation is not expected to occur.
Information pro dived by The U.S. Geological Survey
Seismic Activity from the Gulf of Alaska Quake Captured by the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network
