A major 7.5 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Alaska, sparking a tsunami alert for thousands of Americans.
The US Geological Survey (USGS) detected the quake around 4:30pm ET, hitting in the Pacific Ocean just south of the Alaska Peninsula, near the Shumagin Islands, southeast of Sand Point.
The tsunami could hit coastal areas of southwestern Alaska, including communities from Kennedy Entrance near Homer to Unimak Pass near Unalaska, with potential impact on Kodiak Island, the Alaska Peninsula and parts of the eastern Aleutian Islands.
While sparse, this region is home to an around 17,000 people who were alert through the sound of blaring sirens blaring.
No tsunami has been detected yet, but the situation remains fluid and is developing quickly.
The warning means dangerous coastal flooding and strong currents are likely and may persist for several hours after the first wave.
Another 4.0 magnitude earthquake was detected about one hour later, 26 miles from Halibut Cove that is home to at least 200 people.
This is a developing story… More updates to come
The tsunami could hit coastal areas of southwestern Alaska, including communities from Kennedy Entrance near Homer to Unimak Pass near Unalaska, with potential impact on Kodiak Island, the Alaska Peninsula and parts of the eastern Aleutian Islands
A magnitude 3.0 earthquake struck Virginia today, with the epicenter located about five miles south of the town of Dillwyn in Buckingham County
