Magnitude-7.2 Alaska quake leads to now-cancelled tsunami advisories along west coast

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An overnight earthquake in Alaska set off tsunami advisories but it turned out there was no threat to British Columbia.

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The National Tsunami Warning Center in Palmer, Alaska, first notified of the quake shortly after midnight Pacific time. That bulletin was followed about 45 minutes later with the assurance no tsunami was expected.

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The tremor was estimated at magnitude 7.2 and struck about 85 km southwest of Sand Point in Alaska, nearly 1,000 km southwest of Anchorage, at a depth of 21 km, at about 11:48 p.m. PT.

There was a tsunami advisory for south Alaska and the Alaskan Peninsula, on the Pacific coasts from Chignik Bay to Unimak Pass, about 130 kilometres northeast of the city of Unalaska.

There was no threat to any other U.S. or Canadian coastlines, according to the update.

Even in the areas under an advisory or warning, no significant tsunami waves were reported.

Those in an area under an advisory are urged to avoid coastlines including harbours, marinas, breakwaters, bays and inlets. If you feel a quake, you should move inland and to higher ground, preferably by foot.

Those at sea should, if time permits, move their boat to a depth of at least 55 metres and stay away from harbours and inlets to avoid debris and currents until advised by local emergency officials.

More information and further updates are available at tsunami.gov.

jruttle@postmedia.com