ALEUTIAN ISLANDS (CBS SF) - A tsunami warning has been issued for parts of Alaska after a magnitude 8.0 earthquake was recorded near Little Sitkin Island. Additional aftershocks as large as magnitude 5.9 and 6.0 continue to rock the Aleutian Islands, some closer to populated areas.
Tsunami.gov issued the alert for coastal areas of Alaska, warning that 'significant inundation is possible or is already occurring.' Residents of the area were being warned to move inland, or to higher ground.
Seismographs originally measured the quake as a 7.1 but the U.S. Geological Survey quickly upgraded that number to an 8.0. That's a departure from the usual pattern where quakes are more often downgraded. An 8.0 quake is exponentially stronger.
The extreme depth of the quake at 68 miles deep prevented a more widespread Pacific-wide tsunami.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center does warn that some coastal areas in Alaska and the Northwest may experience 'non-destructive sea level changes' for several hours.
The earthquake was reported at 11:53 a.m. local time.
Another massive quake, this one registering 6.9 struck just before the Alaska quake on the polar opposite side of the ocean, north of New Zealand.
IN-DEPTHREAL-TIME ALASKA TSUNAMI INFORMATION: http://ift.tt/UvAfEoPREPARING FOR TSUNAMIS: California Harbors Improve Mega Wave ProtectionsWEST COAST MEGA-QUAKE: Faults Off Coast Greater Risk Than San AndreasNEW TECH GIVES WARNINGS: 30-Second Warning Before QuakesTSUNAMI RADIATION: Kelp Holds Clues To Fallout From Japan QuakeRADIATION FEARS: Internet Postings Stoke Concerns
Entities 0 Name: Alaska Count: 4 1 Name: U.S. Count: 1 2 Name: Aleutian Islands Count: 1 3 Name: California Count: 1 4 Name: Northwest Count: 1 5 Name: Pacific Tsunami Warning Center Count: 1 6 Name: Japan Count: 1 7 Name: New Zealand Count: 1 8 Name: Little Sitkin Island Count: 1 Related Keywords 0 Name: quake Score: 55 1 Name: tsunami Score: 47 2 Name: alaska Score: 28 3 Name: warning Score: 25 4 Name: aleutian Score: 16 5 Name: coastal Score: 12 6 Name: islands Score: 12 7 Name: areas Score: 12 8 Name: magnitude Score: 11 9 Name: earthquake Score: 11 authors 0 Name: bdisbrow Url: http://ift.tt/1lLJXBt Media Images 0
