Earthquake in Alaska: Tsunami warning after enormous 7.8m tremor strikes off coast 

Earthquake in Alaska: Tsunami warning after enormous 7.8m tremor strikes off coast

  • The shallow quake hit at 6.12am Wednesday and triggered a tsunami warning
  • It hit around 500 miles southwest of Anchorage and 60 miles south of Perryville

A 7.8-magnitude earthquake has struck off the coast of Alaska – putting the area at risk of a tsunami.

The shallow six-mile wide quake started at 6.12am GMT on Wednesday, or 11.25pm on Wednesday PST, on Wednesday.

It was felt as far away as Anchorage, a distance of 500 miles, and hit around 60 miles south-southeast of the remote settlement of Perryville, according to the US Geological Survey. 

A distance of 200 miles surrounding the epicentre of the quake has been put on the watch for a tsunami – which is a large wave of water triggered by the dramatic shifting of tectonic plates during an earthquake.  

More to follow.