The earthquake focused 60 miles, or 98 kilometers, south-southeast of Perryville, Alaska, according to the United States Geological Survey. The earthquake is considered shallow at about six miles, or 10 kilometers deep.
“Anything below 70 kilometers is considered a shallow earthquake,” said CNN meteorologist Allison Chinchar. “That is important, because surface earthquakes often do the most damage, compared to deeper ones, regardless of the force.”
A tsunami warning was issued after the earthquake, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The warning is in effect for southern Alaska and the Alaska Peninsula: the Pacific coast from Kennedy Entrance, Alaska (40 miles southwest of Homer) to Unimak Pass, Alaska, according to the Tsunami Warning Center.
According to the USGS, earthquakes are more likely to become tsunamis if they are large, shallow, and cause earthquakes rather than earthquakes. Earthquakes between magnitudes 7.6 to 7.8 have the potential to produce destructive tsunamis.
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