Not much information as this earthquake just happened within the last few minutes, but a 7.2 earthquake has hit the Aleutian Islands (in Alaska), and a tsunami warning is in effect. Too early right now for information on damage or any tsunamis occurring, but I'll continue to update this diary (as I would with severe wx liveblogs) as information comes in.
Information right now from the USGS:
7.2 hit at 11:09PM Eastern Time, or 4:09PM at the epicenter. 1042 miles from Anchorage AK, 64 miles from Yunaska Island AK, 39 miles from Amukta Island AK.
Here's the text of the tsunami warning:
742 PM AKDT THU JUN 23 2011
...THE TSUNAMI WARNING CONTINUES IN EFFECT FOR THE COASTAL AREAS OF ALASKA FROM UNIMAK PASS ALASKA/80 MILES NE OF DUTCH HARBOR/ TO AMCHITKA PASS ALASKA/125 MILES W OF ADAK/...
PERSONS IN TSUNAMI WARNING COASTAL AREAS SHOULD MOVE INLAND TO HIGHER GROUND.
TSUNAMI WARNINGS MEAN THAT A TSUNAMI WITH SIGNIFICANT WIDESPREAD INUNDATION IS IMMINENT... EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. TSUNAMIS ARE A SERIES OF WAVES POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SEVERAL HOURS AFTER INITIAL ARRIVAL TIME.
ESTIMATED TIMES OF INITIAL WAVE ARRIVAL FOR SELECTED SITES IN THE WARNING ARE PROVIDED BELOW.
ADAK-AK 2012 AKDT JUN 23
DUTCH HARBOR-AK 2028 AKDT JUN 23
FOR ARRIVAL TIMES AT ADDITIONAL LOCATIONS SEE WCATWC.ARH.NOAA.GOV
9:02 PM PT: The USGS has revised the quake down to 7.2, and I'll update the diary accordingly.
9:23 PM PT: AP reports that "hundreds of people" are climbing up a nearby hill due to the tsunami sirens going off in Dutch Harbor, Alaska, home to over 4,000 people.
9:30 PM PT: The tsunami warning has been cancelled.