BREAKING: Tsunami warning issued after 7.3 magnitude earthquake strikes near Alaska

The National Weather Service has issued a tsunami warning after a powerful 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck near Sand Point, Alaska, on Wednesday.

According to the US Geological Survey, the earthquake occurred approximately 54 miles south of Sand Point, a remote area located off the Alaska Peninsula about 600 miles southwest of Anchorage.

The tsunami warning covers a 700-mile stretch of coastal Alaska, from South Alaska and the Alaska Peninsula to Kennedy Entrance and Unimak Pass. Residents in these areas are urged to evacuate inland or move to higher ground immediately.

The earthquake struck at 12:37 pm local time. Alaska's emergency management division said it has not received reports of damage an hour after the earthquake occurred.

“We have seen other earthquakes in the area that have not generated significant tsunami waves, but we’re treating it seriously and going through our procedures, making sure communities are notified so they can activate their evacuation procedures,” said spokesman Jeremy Zidek, according to the Associated Press.
Earlier in the day, a 5.2 magnitude earthquake was also reported in the region, about 40 miles southeast of Atka Island.

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