At 12:38 p.m. local time, the US Geological Survey recorded a 7.3-magnitude earthquake in the Pacific Ocean southeast of Sand Point, near the Shumagin Islands. Sirens and phone alerts urged residents from Homer to Unalaska to evacuate immediately. “Initially there was a lot of bumper-to-bumper traffic and people just trying to get off the spit,” said Homer’s mayor, Rachel Lord.
Officials issued tsunami warnings for the eastern Aleutian Islands, the Alaska Peninsula, and Kodiak Island after photos showed the ocean receding — a clear warning sign. David Snider from NOAA confirmed, “A tsunami was generated by this event, but no longer poses a threat.”
The warning was later downgraded and cancelled about 90 minutes after being issued, though residents were told to stay cautious for the next 24 hours. Schools in Kodiak were opened as emergency shelters during the evacuation.
A resident in Seward shared a video while fleeing: “Just pray we don’t get waved.” Over 20 aftershocks followed, the strongest reaching magnitude 5.2.
Seismologist Michael West reminded that “Four out of five earthquakes in the United States happen in Alaska,” though most are too small to feel. “Early signs suggest we’re on the lucky side today,” he added.
