A 7.5 magnitude earthquake in Alaska has created a tsunami warning. The Associated Press reported that the earthquake struck at midnight on Friday and was centered 60 miles from Craig, Alaska. It was then followed by a few different aftershocks.
The Alaska Tsunami Warning later said that the waves were too small to create a tsunami but there was widespread worry. "Initially, in the first 15 to 20 minutes, there might have been a bit of panic," Sitka Police Chief Sheldon Schmitt said to the AP.
The tsunami warning was canceled early on Saturday for parts of British Columbia, Canada and Southeastern Alask.
"Houses shook; mine had things tossed from (the) wall," Craig Police Chief Robert Ely said to the AP. He added that there were no injuries or deaths reported.
CNN reported that though there were reports of damage at first, the "West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center said a small tsunami of about six inches was observed near the southeastern Alaskan town of Port Alexander on Baranof Island.."
Chief Schmitt said to the AP,"It was the most intense earthquake I've felt in my 10 years here. I'm pretty sure there was stuff falling off of shelves. There is no report of any wave activity here."
He added that there were evacauation sirens that came after the quake which told people to evacuate to higher ground.
"Several citizens elected on their own to move to higher ground. Several locations in Craig were set up for staging (and) shelter," said Craig police chief Robert Ely to the AP.
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