Alaska [US], July 17 (ANI): A powerful earthquake measuring 7.3 on the Richter Scale struck Alaska in the early hours of Thursday (local time), according to the National Center for Seismology (NCS). The earthquake occurred at a shallow depth of 36 kilometers, increasing the likelihood of strong aftershocks and damage on the surface.
In a post on X, the NCS stated: “EQ of M: 7.3, On: 17/07/2025 02:07:42 IST, Lat: 54.91 N, Long: 160.56 W, Depth: 36 Km, Location: Alaska Peninsula.”
Shallow earthquakes tend to cause stronger ground shaking and greater structural damage because seismic waves have less distance to travel to the surface. Following the quake, the US Tsunami Warning System issued a tsunami warning for parts of coastal Alaska, The New York Times reported.
A tsunami warning, the most urgent alert issued by the National Weather Service, advises people in affected areas to move to higher ground or inland immediately. A tsunami advisory urges people to avoid beaches and coastal waters, while a tsunami watch means experts are still assessing the threat.
The Alaska-Aleutian subduction zone is among the most seismically active regions in the world, having produced more magnitude-8 or larger earthquakes over the last century than any other area. Many of these quakes, along with submarine and coastal landslides, have generated destructive tsunamis.
Alaska is also home to more than 130 volcanoes and volcanic fields, accounting for more than three-quarters of all US volcanoes that have erupted in the past two centuries. The state experiences more large earthquakes than the rest of the United States combined, with over 75 percent of its population living in areas susceptible to magnitude-7 quakes.
Experts note that the combined hazards of earthquakes, tsunamis, and landslides pose increasing risks as more people migrate to coastal regions. These events often occur together, and even distant triggers can have devastating local consequences. (ANI)
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