Late Wednesday night, a powerful 8.2-magnitude earthquake struck off Alaska’s southern coast, triggering tsunami warnings across parts of Alaska and a watch as far as Hawaii. The alerts were lifted within hours after officials confirmed no tsunami threat, but residents across coastal communities sought shelter following what seismologists called the strongest U.S. earthquake in 50 years.

The quake hit around 10:15 p.m. local time, roughly 75 miles southeast of Chignik, and was felt throughout Kodiak Island and the Alaska Peninsula. In Kodiak, sirens sounded as people evacuated to higher ground. While no serious damage was immediately reported, homes, lodges, and camps shook violently across the region.

Personal accounts highlighted the intensity. At Camp Woody, staff led dozens of campers uphill in the dark, setting up sleeping bags and supplies until the all-clear was given. More than 400 miles away in Cold Bay, residents described the ground rolling beneath them “like a wave on a boat,” though panic was limited due to Alaska’s frequent seismic activity.

Experts say southern Alaska is one of the world’s most earthquake-prone regions, where the Pacific plate dives beneath the North American plate. While Wednesday’s quake caused little damage due to its depth and sparse population, it ranked among only 17 earthquakes worldwide of magnitude 8.2 or higher since 1990, underscoring the region’s ongoing seismic risk.