Alaska Earthquake: Chilling Video Shows House, Cars Violently Shaking Amid Tsunami Warning

International

-Prakash KL

Updated: Thursday, July 17, 2025, 7:35 [IST]

A
powerful
earthquake
with
a
magnitude
of
7.3
struck
near
a
group
of
Alaskan
islands
on
Wednesday
afternoon,
leading
to
the
formation
of
a
minor
tsunami,
Fox
Weather
reported
citing
officials.

The
U.S.
Geological
Survey
noted
that
the
quake
occurred
at
12:37
p.m.
local
time,
approximately
54
miles
from
Sand
Point,
Alaska,
and
was
centered
about
12
miles
deep.

Initially,
NOAA’s
National
Tsunami
Warning
Center
issued
warnings
for
the
Alaska
coastline
from
Kennedy
Entrance
to
Unimak
Pass,
including
Kodiak
Island,
Chignik,
and
Cold
Bay.
The
U.S.
Coast
Guard
evacuated
personnel
from
its
Kodiak
base
to
higher
ground
and
prepared
two
air
crews
for
assistance.

Impact
and
Response

The
warning
initially
indicated
a
potential
tsunami
height
of
up
to
one
foot
and
advised
those
in
the
affected
areas
to
expect
some
local
impacts.
However,
the
warning
was
downgraded
to
an
advisory
within
an
hour
as
the
threat
diminished
and
was
eventually
cancelled.
A
buoy
at
Sand
Point
recorded
a
minor
tsunami
with
a
water
rise
of
just
0.2
feet
or
about
3
inches.

“A
tsunami
was
generated
by
this
event
but
no
longer
poses
a
threat,” stated
the
Tsunami
Warning
Center.
“Some
areas
may
continue
to
see
small
sea
level
changes.”
Fortunately,
there
were
no
immediate
reports
of
damage
from
either
the
earthquake
or
the
subsequent
tsunami.

Seismic
Activity
in
Alaska

Michael
West,
a
seismologist
with
the
Alaska
Earthquake
Center,
explained
that
Alaska’s
southern
coast
is
highly
prone
to
earthquakes.
“Four
out
of
five
earthquakes
in
the
United
States
happen
in
Alaska,” he
said.
While
quakes
are
frequent
in
this
region,
not
all
are
significant
or
even
noticeable.

West
added
that
initial
signs
suggested
they
were
fortunate
this
time.
Seismologists
and
the
Tsunami
Warning
Center
will
continue
collecting
data
on
this
seismic
event.

Historical
Context

Alaska
experienced
its
most
powerful
earthquake
in
March
1964
with
a
magnitude
of
9.2,
which
remains
North
America’s
strongest
recorded
quake.
It
caused
extensive
damage
in
Anchorage
and
triggered
a
tsunami
affecting
the
Gulf
of
Alaska,
the
US
west
coast,
and
Hawaii.

Tsunamis
consist
of
dangerous
waves
resulting
from
massive
terrain
movements
like
earthquakes
or
landslides.
Meanwhile,
footage
has
emerged
online
showing
houses
and
cars
shaking
during
Wednesday’s
earthquake
in
Alaska’s
southern
peninsula.

Viral
Video

The
Alaska
Earthquake
Center
shared
a
video
captured
by
a
resident
in
Sand
Point,
located
about
50
miles
from
the
epicenter.
“We
got
this
incredible
footage
of
today’s
earthquake
from
a
resident
in
Sand
Point,” they
wrote.
The
agency
expressed
gratitude
for
shared
experiences
that
help
others
understand
earthquakes
better
and
prepare
accordingly.

“We
are
also
grateful
that
we
have
not
heard
of
anyone
injured
from
this
fairly
large
earthquake
for
Alaska,” they
added.