A powerful 7.3 earthquake struck south of Sand Point Wednesday afternoon, prompting emergency evacuations across a 700-mile coastal stretch. The quake hit at 1:37 p.m. local time, shaking communities near Anchorage nearly 600 miles northeast of the epicenter.
Officials quickly issued a tsunami warning from Homer to Unimak Pass, urging coastal residents to move to higher ground immediately. Communities like Kodiak, Cold Bay, and King Cove activated alerts as waves were forecast to hit within the next two hours.
The National Tsunami Warning Center downgraded the warning to an advisory by 1:50 p.m. and canceled it entirely by 2:45 p.m. Sand Point saw the highest water rise, just 2.5 inches, while Kodiak reported a small six-inch wave confirmed by the Coast Guard.
People in Unalaska, Homer, and Seward followed evacuation protocols, including visitors like Jodie Stevens, who fled uphill amid public warnings. The only damage reported was broken glass at Sand Point´s general store, though locals described intense shaking and falling household items.
City officials and police chiefs confirmed no structural damage to airports, harbors, or other critical infrastructure in affected zones. Seismologists recorded over 40 aftershocks within three hours of the main quake, including one as strong as magnitude 5.2.
State Seismologist Michael West called the activity part of a larger pattern of seismic unrest along the Aleutian chain since 2020. Although the quake occurred in relatively shallow water, officials warned residents to stay away from beaches during the advisory period.
Emergency agencies praised the swift response from Coastal towns, where police, Coast Guard units, and volunteers coordinated traffic and evacuations. The 7.3 earthquake ended with minimal damage, but experts say the region remains vulnerable to larger seismic events.
