(Eagle News) – A magnitude 8.2 quake struck 278 kilometers southeast of Kodiak, Alaska prompting a tsunami watch for the US west coast and the state of Hawaii, and tsunami warnings for South Alaska, British Columbia and the Aleutian islands
The quake struck at 9:31 a.m. (UTC or Coordinated Universal Time) or 5:31 p.m. Philippine time. It has a depth of 10 kilometers and was recorded 278 kilometers southeast of Kodiak island of the state of Alaska in the United States, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS)
“Based on all available data a tsunami may have been generated by this earthquake that could be destructive on coastal areas even far from the epicenter. An investigation is underway to determine if there is a tsunami threat to Hawaii,” said the latest advisory from the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center.
Tsunami warnings were issued for Alaska and the west coast of Canada, the National Tsunami Warning Center said.
Less-ominous tsunami watches were issued for the US west coast — the entire coasts of California and Oregon and part of Washington state.
In Alaska, authorities urged coast dwellers to seek safety.
“If you are located in this coastal area, move inland to higher ground,” the Anchorage Office of Emergency Management said.
“Tsunami warnings mean that a tsunami with significant inundation is possible or is already occurring. Tsunamis are a series of waves dangerous many hours after initial arrival time. The first wave may not be the largest.”
(with a report from Agence France-Presse)
(Developing story)
