Tsunami warning in effect for Alaska coastal areas
The Alaska Earthquake Information Center says a major earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.2 has been recorded in the Pacific Ocean off Alaska's remote Aleutian Islands.
The Center says the Thursday evening quake was felt through the central Aleutians and as far east as Dutch Harbor and Unalaska. There are no immediate reports of damage.
The West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center says a tsunami warning has been posted for certain coastal areas of Alaska.
That warning covers an area from 128 kilometers northeast of Dutch Harbor to about 201 kilometers west of Adak.
Alaska Homeland Security Department spokesman Jeremy Zidek says the state has activated its emergency coordination center and will be checking to make sure all the small communities in the area get the warning.
In Dutch Harbor, longshoreman Jim Paulin reports that the tsunami warning sirens have gone off and hundreds of people are climbing up a nearby hill.
