Tsunami warning issued for Alaska: Here are the affected areas and everything you need to know

Following the 7.3-magnitude quake, the National Weather Service (NWS) issued a tsunami alert. The agency reported that the quake occurred at a depth of 22 miles, approximately 50 miles south of Sand Point.

The tsunami alert covers coastal areas of Alaska from Kennedy Entrance to Unimak Pass, according to the National Tsunami Warning Center.

The alert means that a tsunami with “significant inundation” is either expected or occurring. “Warnings indicate that widespread dangerous coastal flooding accompanied by powerful currents are possible and may continue for several hours after the initial wave arrival.” the National Tsunami Warning Center said.

When a tsunami alert is issued, anyone in the inundation zone should move to higher ground or a designated tsunami shelter.

Alaska is highly vulnerable to tsunamis

According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Alaska is one of five Pacific states “especially vulnerable to tsunamis,” which can be triggered by earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, submarine landslides, or landslides on land.

The Alaska Earthquake Center reports that in the state, tsunamis caused by nearby earthquakes or landslides pose “near-field hazards.” This means people may have only minutes, not hours, to reach safety. “Coastal Alaska communities live with the most serious tsunami risk in the United States,” the center notes.

Some of Alaska’s most significant tsunamis include:

• The Augustine Volcano tsunami (1883)
• The Lituya Bay megatsunami (1958)
• The Great Alaska Earthquake tsunami (1964)
• The Icy Bay tsunami (2015)

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