Update: 7.5 earthquake off southeast Alaska; tsunami warnings/advisories over

1:55 AM: The marker on the map is for Craig in southeastern Alaska, the reference point that authorities are using for a magnitude 7.6 earthquake that hit about an hour ago, around 60 miles west-southwest of Craig. Nearby areas of Alaska and B.C. had tsunami warnings; there was a tsunami advisory stretching as far south as the British Columbia-Washington border. See the warnings/advisories here. No word of any trouble so far. P.S. If you’re wondering how our area’s been doing with quake activity – we found this Pacific Northwest 2012 wrapup online.

2:02 AM: The USGS is now calling the quake 7.5.

2:37 AM: The tsunami advisory that had run south to the BC-Washington border is now canceled. Two months ago, there was a 7.7-magnitude quake in the Haidi Gwaii (formerly Queen Charlottes) region to the south of this quake’s location – we wrote about it here.

3:10 AM: If you needed a jolt to work on preparedness – here is a link we haven’t mentioned since that last regional quake: West Seattle Be Prepared, laden with information including your nearest “emergency-communication hub.” Know it, just in case.

3:23 PM: The last warnings up in Alaska/BC are no longer in effect.

Evergreen January 5, 2013 (2:03 am)

Wow, thanks for the info. I feel so unprepared.

WSB January 5, 2013 (2:07 am)

This isn’t that far north of the Haida Gwaii (formerly Queen Charlottes) quake a while back, and that drew widespread interest. Mostly people making sure we weren’t in danger of tsunami. And for this one, we are definitely OUTSIDE the warning/advisory zone…

Floraista January 5, 2013 (2:18 am)

Thanks for the heads up! WSB on the ball as per normal! We all should be stocking up on supplies. Being prepared is not just for girl scouts!

Greenpeace January 5, 2013 (8:59 am)

Excellent report and educational links. Thank you WSB

Eric1 January 5, 2013 (10:04 am)

Earthquakes all around the ring of fire except near us. Why do I feel like our number is up soon?
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Ditto what Evergreen said.

Heather January 5, 2013 (11:18 am)

I too feel unprepared. But really, you do what you can but some things are just beyond your control. Give yourself tools to provide yourself with options. Otherwise it’s important to enjoy the day.

Susan January 5, 2013 (11:25 am)

WSB, do you ever sleep? It seems like you post 24/7! Your work is greatly appreciated.

WSB January 5, 2013 (11:31 am)

We committed to 24/7 news coverage more than five years ago – including getting and publicizing a business phone number that we answer around the clock (206-293-6302) – sometimes the middle of the night is when people most need to know what’s going on! Thanks for the kind words – TR

John January 5, 2013 (2:08 pm)

Fortunately this was a strike/slip fault where the sea floor is not thrust up nearly as much as a thrust fault like that which happened in Japan last year.

The big one is still coming though . . .

WSB January 5, 2013 (2:33 pm)

Thank you, John. Was it related, do you know, to the Haida Gwaii quake from October – same fault or … ?

lisa January 6, 2013 (10:25 am)

I was walking at Alki yesterday and there were some serious waves around 3:30 pm. My husband and I were wondering if they had anything to do with the quake
Does anyone know anything about that?

WSB January 6, 2013 (10:42 am)

Nothing to do with the quake whatsoever. Even in the area that was under warning, what “tsunami” was generated was barely a ripple (as is usually the case, with tragic and notable exceptions such as Japan and Sri Lanka, so we can’t ever assume). If it wasn’t windy, the most common reason for “serious waves” around here is a boat wake – after a ferry passes, for example.

Lisa January 6, 2013 (12:49 pm)

Thanks for the explanation. It helps get rid of the fear. :-)

John January 9, 2013 (7:07 pm)

“Thank you, John. Was it related, do you know, to the Haida Gwaii quake from October – same fault or … ?”

Likely yes. Many times when an earthquake happens it relieves stress at that point in the fault, but transfers stress to a nearby spot on the fault that will rupture later on. When is anyone’s guess.
There is a major fault line in Turkey that has been having major earthquakes gradually moving down the fault as the stress in one part is relieved it builds up stress at the next point down the fault line. Scientists know approximately where the next earthquake will happen, but not really when or how large.

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