7.5 magnitude quake hits off Alaska

WASHINGTON, Jan 05, (AFP) - A major 7.5-magnitude earthquake shook an area in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of the US state of Alaska early Saturday, triggering a potentially destructive local tsunami, the US government said.

The epicenter of the quake, which occurred at 0858 GMT, was located 102 kilometres (63 miles) west of Craig, Alaska, at a depth of nine kilometres (5.5 miles), according to the United States Geological Survey.

The strength of the tremor was initially put at 7.7, but it was later downgraded to 7.5. Several aftershocks measuring from 2.5 to 4.8 hit the area in the wake of the first one, the USGS said.

There were no immediate reports of casualties or damage.

But the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said a local and possibly destructive tsunami has been generated by the quake.

“Sea level readings indicate a tsunami was generated,” the US center said in a statement. “It may have been destructive along coasts near the earthquake epicenter.”