A magnitude-8.0 earthquake off the western end of Alaska’s Aleutian Islands shortly before 1 p.m. Monday triggered a tsunami warning in the area, which was downgraded to a tsunami advisory a couple of hours later, according to the National Tsunami Warning Center.
A tsunami warning was in effect for the coastal areas of Alaska from Nikolski to Attu, including the Pribilof Islands to the north after the quake hit at 12:53 p.m. The NTWC downgraded the tsunami warning to a tsunami advisory for the coastal areas of Alaska from Unimak Pass west to Attu Island at 2:44 p.m. Monday.
The National Tsunami Warning Center advised people in the warning area to move inland to higher ground and to avoid the coast until local emergency officials indicated that it was safe to do so.
According to an updated warning from the National Tsunami Warning Center at 1:43 p.m., a small tsunami of just over half a foot was recorded at Amchitka, Alaska.
At 2 p.m., Adak reported water leaving the harbor, the National Weather Service’s Anchorage office wrote on Twitter, with residents there moving to higher ground.
A separate tsunami advisory was initially issued after the quake, covering Nikolski to Unimak Pass, 80 miles northeast of Unalaska, according to the National Tsunami Warning Center. “A tsunami capable of producing strong currents or waves dangerous to persons in or very near the water is expected,” the advisory read. “Currents may be hazardous to swimmers, boats and coastal structures and may continue for many hours after the tsunami arrival.”
The earthquake hit at 12:53 p.m. Monday at a depth of 62 miles, according to the Alaska Earthquake Information Center. The earthquake struck 15 miles northwest of Amchitka, and 29 miles southeast of Little Sitkin Pass. The U.S. Geological Survey initially listed the earthquake at a magnitude of 7.1, which was later revised to 8.0.
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SOURCE: LAUREL ANDREWS
Anchorage Daily News / Alaska Dispatch
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