Powerful 7.8 earthquake hits Alaska isles; tsunami threat over

A powerful 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck the Alaska Peninsula late Tuesday, triggering a tsunami warning that sent residents fleeing to higher ground before it was called off without any damaging waves.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, thequake struck Tuesday at 10:12 p.m. local time. The quake was centredin waters 105 kilometres south-southeast of Perryville, Alaska at a depth of 28 kilometres, deeper than an earlier estimate.

The quake triggered tsunami warnings for South Alaska, the Alaska Peninsula and the Aleutian Islands that werecalled off early Wednesday, about two hours after the quake.

Tsunami warning sirens could be heard blaring in videos posted on social media as residents heeded warnings to evacuate.

Hours later, a5.1-magnitude earthquake struck 220 kilometres off the coast of Tofino, B.C., on the western edge of Vancouver Island.Earthquakes Canada said the tremor, registered atat 4:33 a.m. PT, was not felt and did not create a tsunami risk.

WATCH |Siren roars in Kodiak, Alaska after 7.8 magnitude quake

Siren roars in Kodiak, Alaska after 7.8 magnitude quake

4 years ago

Duration 0:25

A tsunami warning was briefly issued after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck 105 kilometres off the coast of Alaska.

Schools opened for evacuees

On Kodiak Island in Alaska,the local high school opened its doors for evacuees, as did the local Catholic school, the Anchorage Daily News reported.

"We've got a high school full of people," Larry LeDoux, superintendent of the Kodiak School District, told the Daily News. "I've been passing out masks since the first siren sounded."

"Everything's as calm as can be."

He said between 300 and 400 people were at the school.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said there had been no threat to other U.S. and Canadian Pacific coastal areas.

According to the USGS, since 1900 there have been six other earthquakes of magnitude 7.0 and higher within 250 kilometres of Tuesday's quake. The largest of those was an 8.2 quake in 1938.

The Alaska-Aleutian Trench was also where a magnitude 9.2 quake in 1964 was centred.