Tsunami alert after a powerful earthquake in Alaska

A tsunami warning issued on 7.9 magnitude earthquake strikes the Alaska coast. Hawaii and California were also added to the tsunami alert announced on Tuesday. News AFP

According to the US Geological Survey, earthquake struck at 9.37 minutes during the Greenwich standard in the Gulf of Alaska, 280 kilometers southeast of Codiac city. The epicenter of the earthquake was 10 kilometers deep from the sea level.

Heather Rand, an eyewitness of the earthquake, told CNN that it was the longest earthquake in his life.

The United States National Tsunami Warning Center has announced a tsunami alert on southeast Alaska and the western coast of Canada shortly after the earthquake. Apart from the entire coast of California, there is a gentle tsunami alert on the west coast of the United States, including the State of Washington, and the Hawaii Islands of the Pacific Ocean.

The most risky Alaska coastal residents have been called for safe shelter. Anchorage office of the emergency department said in an announcement, "Let the people who are in the coastal area get to the high places inside Alsace."