Massive Earthquake Off Russia's Coast: Tsunami Warning in Parts of Alaska
View of the sea from downtown Anchorage. The city is not in the tsunami watch area. (Photo: Hilde Bye).
Anchorage (High North News): A tsunami warning has been issued for several countries in the Pacific after a massive earthquake off Russia's coast. The tsunami warning includes parts of Alaska's Aleutian Islands.
Three earthquakes have been registered off the coast of Russia, in the Far East region, on Tuesday. One of the earthquakes was registered at a magnitude of 8.8, with an epicenter off the east coast of the Kamchatka Peninsula, according to the US Geological Survey.
The earthquakes caused a tsunami warning to be issued for several countries in the Pacific, including warnings for the US states of Hawaii and Alaska.
In Alaska, the latest Public Tsunami Message from the US Tsunami Warning Center notes that a tsunami warning is in effect for parts of the Aleutian Islands. The islands stretch westward off the coast of southern Alaska towards Russia in the North Pacific Ocean.
The Aleutian Islands stretches westwards off the coast of southern Alaska towards Russia in the North Atlantic. (Map: Shelby Duncan / Maptyx)
A tsunami advisory is also in effect for South Alaska and the Alaska Peninsula; from the Pacific coasts from Chignik Bay to Unimak Pass, as well as parts of the Aleutian Islands.
While a tsunami advisory means that strong currents and waves, which can be dangerous to those in or very near water, are possible, a tsunami warning means that dangerous coastal flooding and powerful currents are possible.
Anchorage is not in the tsunami watch area, concludes NOAA.
