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No tsunami threat to B.C. after 7.5-magnitude earthquake in Alaska

Click to play video: 'Tsunami warning sirens sound in Alaska after magnitude 7.5 earthquake off coast'
Tsunami warning sirens sound in Alaska after magnitude 7.5 earthquake off coast
WATCH: Tsunami warning sirens sound in Alaska after magnitude 7.5 earthquake off coast – Oct 19, 2020

Officials say there is no tsunami threat to British Columbia after a 7.5-magnitude earthquake was detected off the coast of Alaska.

In a statement just before 7 p.m. ET, Emergency Management B.C. said there is “no threat” to the province.

The the United States Geological Survey said the earthquake occurred just before 5 p.m. ET on Monday, approximately 94 kilometres southeast of Sand Point.

The magnitude of the earthquake was upgraded from 7.4 to 7.5 just after 5:30 p.m. ET.

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The Alaska Earthquake Center said the quake was widely felt in communities along the southern coast, including Sand Point, Chignik, Unalaska and the Kenai Peninsula.

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The center said a magnitude 5.2 aftershock was reported 11 minutes later, centered roughly in the same area.

Another 5.9 magnitude aftershock was registered shortly after 6:20 p.m. ET around 136 kilometres southeast of Sand Point.

A tsunami warning has been issued for South Alaska and the Alaska Peninsula.

“If you are located in this coastal area, move inland to higher ground,” the warning reads.

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Global News chief meteorologist Anthony Farnell said a small tsunami appeared to have been generated after the earthquake.

“Information is still coming in, but some of the nearby buoys are reporting some tsunami activity,” he said.

–With files from The Associated Press

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