Is An Alaska Tsunami Possible? Fears Rise As Magnitude 7.3 Earthquake Triggers Warning

A powerful 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck off the southern coast of Alaska on Tuesday, 16 July 2025, prompting widespread tsunami warnings and evacuation alerts. The tremor, which occurred around 12:37 p.m. local time, was located approximately 54 miles south of Sand Point in the Aleutian Islands.

The National Tsunami Warning Center (NTWC) initially issued a tsunami warning for over 700 miles of coastline, including areas such as Kodiak, Unalaska, and King Cove. Although the warning was later downgraded and eventually cancelled, the incident has reignited public concern over whether Alaska is truly prepared for a destructive tsunami.

What Prompted the Tsunami Warning in Alaska Today?

Following the earthquake, the NTWC quickly issued an alert due to the quake's undersea origin, which carried the potential to generate a tsunami. Emergency officials instructed residents in low-lying coastal communities to evacuate to higher ground. Schools and businesses temporarily closed as sirens sounded and authorities assessed the threat.

Monitoring buoys recorded a minor wave of around 0.2 feet near Sand Point, significantly lower than the threshold for danger. Within two hours, the warning was downgraded to an advisory and subsequently cancelled. No major damage or injuries were reported, though small items were displaced in some shops.

Why Alaska Faces a Real Risk of Devastating Tsunamis

Experts say the danger is real. Alaska sits along the Pacific Ring of Fire, one of the most seismically active regions in the world. It is home to multiple fault lines and subduction zones capable of triggering tsunamis with little warning.

Historical events highlight the risk. In 1958, a landslide-triggered megatsunami in Lituya Bay produced waves that reached over 500 metres high. In 1946, the Aleutian Islands earthquake caused a tsunami that killed 159 people, including victims as far away as Hawaii.

'Alaska is one of five Pacific states in the United States especially vulnerable to tsunamis, which can be triggered by earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, submarine landslides or landslides,' a USGS article said.

How Residents in Coastal Alaska Responded

As reported by AP News, residents of Sand Point and nearby villages responded swiftly to the warning. Some recalled similar alerts in recent years and said they followed pre-established evacuation protocols.

As reported by AP News, Jeremy Zidek, spokesperson for Alaska's emergency management division, said that while previous earthquakes in the region have often not resulted in major tsunami waves, officials are still taking this one seriously by following established protocols and ensuring local communities receive timely evacuation alerts.

Though this event caused minimal damage, some locals are becoming increasingly weary of repeated tsunami warnings. There are concerns about 'alert fatigue', especially when many warnings do not lead to significant tsunamis.

Are Alaska's Tsunami Warning Systems Working—or Causing Panic?

The NTWC, in collaboration with NOAA and local agencies, uses a combination of ocean buoys, tide gauges, and seismic data to issue alerts. While the system has improved over the years, balancing accuracy and urgency remains a challenge.

Investments in artificial intelligence and real-time seismic analysis aim to reduce unnecessary alerts while ensuring rapid responses when real threats emerge.