A powerful 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck off the southern coast of Alaska on Wednesday, prompting widespread coastal evacuations. The quake’s epicenter was near Sand Point in the Pacific Ocean. Emergency alerts urged residents from Homer to Unimak Pass to seek higher ground, leading to traffic jams as people rushed inland. Homer’s mayor described the evacuation as swift and urgent.

Tsunami warnings were issued for Kodiak Island, the Alaska Peninsula, and eastern Aleutians, with images showing receding water levels and empty beaches. NOAA confirmed a small tsunami with a three-inch sea level rise, but it posed no major threat. Within 90 minutes, the warning was downgraded and eventually canceled, though coastal residents were urged to remain cautious due to ongoing wave activity.

Over 20 aftershocks followed, including one measuring 5.2. Seismologist Michael West noted Alaska’s extreme earthquake activity, accounting for 80% of U.S. quakes. While many tremors go unnoticed, this one stood out due to its strength—yet luckily caused no serious damage. Emergency shelters were activated in places like Kodiak as a precaution.

The last quake of similar size occurred near the Andreanof Islands in 1996. However, Alaska’s most devastating earthquake remains the 1964 Prince William Sound quake, which registered at 9.2 and caused widespread destruction, with tsunamis hitting as far as Japan. Wednesday’s event served as a reminder of the region’s volatile seismic history.