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Tsunami warning canceled after Alaska quake

Kodiak officials warned residents to evacuate if they lived in low-lying areas.
Credit: iStock

The National Tsunami Center canceled a tsunami warning that was issued for parts of the U.S. west coast after a magnitude-7.9 earthquake hit off Alaska.

However Mickey Varnadao, a computer specialist with the center in Palmer, Alaska, said an advisory remains in place in the state from Kodiak Island to Prince William Sound.

The quake struck about 175 miles southeast of Kodiak Island at a depth of 6 miles at 12:31 a.m. local time (4:31 a.m. ET) Tuesday, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) said. It was initially reported as magnitude-8.2 earthquake. There were no immediate reports of any damage.

The USGS had earlier said the first wave could reach Kodiak in Alaska at 1:45 a.m. local time (5:45 a.m. ET) and Neah Bay in Washington at 5:55 a.m. local time (8:55 a.m. ET).

Varnadao said the National Tsunami Center canceled the alert after waves failed to materialize on the Alaska coast.

Lt. Tim Putney, of the Kodiak Police Department, said: “We haven’t seen anything yet or had any reports of a wave.”

Authorities in Kodiak told people living under the 10-foot mark to move to higher ground. Putney said the town has several shelters above 100-foot.

Warnings from the National Weather Service sent to cellphones in Alaska soon after he quake said: “Emergency Alert. Tsunami danger on the coast. Go to high ground or move inland.”

People said on social media that the tremblor was felt hundreds of miles away in Anchorage.

Contributing: The Associated Press

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