Major quake strikes off Alaska, local Tsunami warning issued

Los Angeles: An 8.0-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Alaska generating a local Tsunami warning, the US Geological Survey has said. But the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre on Monday said that “based on all available data, a destructive Pacific-wide tsunami is not expected,” adding that Hawaii was also not at risk.

The epicenter of the quake, which struck at 2053 GMT, was located 24 kilometers South-East of remote Little Sitkin Island, in the western Aleutians.

The epicenter was located at a depth of about 70 miles.

The National Tsunami Warning Centre said the warning was in effect for coastal areas from Nikolski on Umnak Island to Attu Island at the far western end of the Aleutians.

“Widespread dangerous coastal flooding accompanied by powerful currents are possible in those areas and may continue for many hours after Tsunami arrival,” National Tsunami Warning Centre said.

It also said the level of Tsunami danger for other US and Canadian Pacific coasts was being evaluated.