7.2 earthquake off Alaska Peninsula triggers brief tsunami warning, sending some residents to higher ground

A 7.2 magnitude earthquake off the Alaska Peninsula triggered a brief tsunami advisory for a swath of Alaska’s coast late Saturday, sending some residents to higher ground before it was canceled.

The earthquake, at 10:48 p.m., was centered 65 miles south of Sand Point and occurred at a depth of 3.8 miles, according to the Alaska Earthquake Center. It was originally reported as 7.4 and later downgraded to 7.2.

The earthquake was felt widely throughout the Aleutian Islands, the Alaskan Peninsula and Cook Inlet regions, according to the earthquake center. No damage was reported.

A tsunami warning was issued for a wide stretch of the Gulf of Alaska coast, from the eastern Aleutian Island to the mouth of Cook Inlet, but was later downgraded to an advisory. That was later canceled. No significant waves were reported. Several aftershocks were reported.

Sirens and phone warnings briefly sent residents of several communities, including Sand Point, Kodiak and Homer, to evacuate to higher ground. The all-clear was issued about an hour later.

As in previous tsunami alerts for Alaska coastal regions, many people in the Anchorage area received cellphone alerts of the tsunami warning even though authorities said there was no danger to Cook Inlet communities. Scientists have said in the past it’s unlikely a tsunami would ever pose a serious threat to Anchorage.

[Earlier coverage: Tsunami concerns ease following 7.2 earthquake off Alaska Peninsula]

Some information in this story was provided by the Associated Press.