MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Fire chief: 7.9 magnitude Alaska earthquake went on for more than 1 minute

Jan 23, 2018, 4:42 AM | Updated: 5:48 am

earthquake in alaska...

(USGS)

(USGS)

A tsunami watch that was in effect for the Washington coast after a 7.9 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Alaska was canceled by the National Weather Service.

Check the Earthquake Tracker

The cancellation came at 4:18 a.m.

The earthquake was recorded around 12:30 a.m. about 170 miles southeast of Kodiak Island in the Gulf of Alaska. It had a preliminary magnitude of 8.2 but has been downgraded to magnitude 7.9.

A fire chief in Alaska told The Associated Press that the earthquake went on for up to 90 seconds.

“Boy, I hope this stops soon because it’s just getting worse,” he said.

There have been at least 10 aftershocks.

Parts of south and southeast Alaska were under a tsunami warning, but now only south Alaska and the Alaska peninsula are under an advisory.

Overnight evacuations happened in Kodiak, Alaska. People awoke to warnings to get to higher elevations.

Larry LeDoux, superintendent of the Kodiak Island Borough School District, says schools were open as shelters and estimated there were about 500 people at the high school.

According to the United States Geological Service, the earthquake was the result of strike slip faulting where the Pacific plate is converging with the North American plate.

USGS says over the last 100 years, 11 other earthquakes of magnitude 7 or larger have occurred within 600km of Tuesday’s quake.

MyNorthwest News

Photo: On Monday, Mayor Bruce Harrell announced there will be 16 new preschool classrooms across Se...

Julia Dallas

Harrell’s office announces Seattle preschool slots for thousands of kids

Thousands more families will have the chance to start their children's Seattle preschool education earlier, thanks to a program launching.

9 hours ago

Digital...

Micki Gamez

How parents can help prevent children from falling victim to online sex crimes

Chances are, if your teen has a cell phone or tablet, they either know someone or they have been the victim of an online sex crime because kids as young as seven are online more than ever. My interest in this story began almost the same time last year when my daughter came home and […]

13 hours ago

Pierce County Jail...

Bill Kaczaraba

Pierce County Corrections chief at odds with the employee guild

The Corrections Bureau's Guild has issued Patti Jackson a vote of 'no confidence,' as reported by The Tacoma News Tribune.

14 hours ago

Image: A Seattle Police Department vehicle seen during the day...

Sam Campbell

Security guard stabbed, suspect barricades inside Beacon Hill apartment

SWAT officers surrounded a complex in Seattle's Beacon Hill neighborhood after police said a man stabbed a guard barricaded himself inside.

16 hours ago

seattle indecent exposure...

Frank Sumrall

Seattle man arrested for 14 counts of indecent exposure, most near schools

A 34-year-old man was arrested by Seattle police (SPD) in connection to 14 counts of indecent exposure near Lake Forest Park.

16 hours ago

Federal Way shootings...

Bill Kaczaraba

Federal Way Police say two shootings are related

Police believe two shootings in Federal Way are related.

18 hours ago

Fire chief: 7.9 magnitude Alaska earthquake went on for more than 1 minute