A 7.3 magnitude earthquake strikes the coast of Alaska, and sea levels are recorded to have receded.

Arab Weather - A powerful earthquake measuring 7.3 on the Richter scale struck off the southern coast of Alaska on Wednesday morning, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The earthquake's epicenter was located approximately 87 kilometers south of the town of Sand Point, at a depth of approximately 20.1 kilometers below the Earth's surface. The earthquake occurred at 12:37 p.m. local time.

Tsunami warning for southern Alaska and the Alaska Peninsula

Following the earthquake, US authorities issued an initial tsunami warning for the coasts of southern Alaska and the Alaska Peninsula, before later downgrading it to a "warning" level.

According to the Tsunami Warning Center in Palmer, Alaska, the warning area included coastal areas between Kennedy Entrance (southwest of Homer) and Unimic Pass (northeast of Unalaska).

Calls to stay away from beaches and ports

Authorities issued an urgent appeal to residents of the areas covered by the warning, urging them to immediately evacuate the water and stay away from beaches, ports, and harbors, as well as avoid seawalls and bays, as a precaution against any sudden tsunami waves.

No current warnings for remote areas.

So far, no tsunami warnings or alerts have been issued for areas far from the earthquake's epicenter, according to the Alaska Tsunami Warning Center.

Alaska is within the seismic ring of fire.

Alaska is part of the Pacific "Ring of Fire," one of the world's most seismically and volcanically active regions.

In March 1964, the state experienced the strongest earthquake in North American history, measuring 9.2 on the Richter scale. The earthquake caused widespread destruction in Anchorage and triggered a tsunami that swept across the US coast and Hawaii, killing dozens and causing material losses exceeding $400 million.

Recurring earthquakes in the region in recent years

In July 2023, the region was hit by another 7.2-magnitude earthquake off the Alaska Peninsula, but it did not cause significant damage.