A powerful 7.3-magnitude earthquake struck off Alaska’s southern coast on Wednesday, briefly triggering a tsunami warning that sent communities along a 700-mile stretch scrambling to higher ground before the alert was lifted. The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake occurred at 12:37 p.m. Alaska Daylight Time about 55 miles (87 km) south of Sand Point at a depth of roughly 9 miles. Shaking was felt as far away as Anchorage, nearly 600 miles to the northeast. The National Tsunami Warning Center issued a warning for coastline from about 40 miles southwest of Homer to Unimak Pass, covering towns such as Kodiak, Cold Bay and Unalaska. Sirens sounded, the U.S. Coast Guard moved personnel to higher ground in Kodiak and residents were told to seek elevations of at least 50 feet. Tide gauges later showed the highest water rise was only 2.5 inches at Sand Point. The warning was downgraded to an advisory within about an hour and canceled at 2:43 p.m. Officials reported no injuries or major structural damage, though stores in Sand Point reported broken merchandise. “We’re treating it seriously and making sure communities are notified,” Alaska emergency management spokesman Jeremy Zidek said. Wednesday’s tremor is the fifth earthquake of magnitude 7 or greater in roughly the same area since 2020, underscoring the seismic volatility of Alaska’s segment of the Pacific Ring of Fire. The Alaska Earthquake Center recorded more than 20 aftershocks, and seismologists cautioned that the region remains capable of larger events.