اردو
  • Tsunami warning issued after huge 7.8 quake hits US

    US state ALASKA hit by Earth Quake File Photo US state ALASKA hit by Earth Quake

    US state ALASKA has been hit by a huge earthquake, which prompted a major tsunami alert in the US.

    The 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit about 75 miles south of Chignik in Alaska. Officials issued a tsunami warning for South Alaska and the Alaska Peninsula, from Kennedy Entrance to Unimak Pass.

    The US Tsunami Warning System said tsunami activity was predicted to hit within the next hour at points along the Alaskan coast.

    It said Sand Point could be hit at 11.15pm local time (8.15am BST), Kodiak at 12.05am (9.05am BST) and Cold Bay at 12.15am (9.15am BST).

    This has now been downgraded and there is no longer a tsunami threat from this earthquake.

    The quake was at a depth of 10 km (6 miles), according to the GFZ German Research Center for Geosciences.

    The warning said "hazardous waves" are possible along coasts within 300km of the epicentre.

    It said "persons caught in the water of a tsunami may drown, be crushed by debris in the water or be swept out to sea".

    It read: "Based on the preliminary earthquake parameters, hazardous tsunami waves are possible for coasts located within 300km of the earthquake epicentre."

    The National Weather Service tweeted: "Impacts to the California coast are still being evaluated by the Tsunami Warning Center."