Update at 7:35 p.m. on July 29

The U.S. National Weather Service has issued a tsunami advisory for the California coast, with projected arrival times of 12:15 a.m. Wednesday in Monterey, 12:40 a.m. in San Francisco, and 1 a.m. in Los Angeles.

The agency warns the public that this will not be a single wave and that people should not try to go to the coast to take photos of the tsunami.

Original Story 

A tsunami advisory has been issued for parts of western Alaska following a powerful magnitude 8.7 earthquake Tuesday evening in the North Pacific.

The U.S. National Weather Service said the quake struck at 11:24 p.m. UTC (3:24 p.m. AKDT), about 315 miles southwest of Bering Island near the Komandorski Islands.

It occurred at a depth of about 46 miles.

The advisory affects coastal areas from Samalga Pass, about 30 miles southwest of Nikolski, to Attu Island at the western tip of the Aleutian chain, the agency said.

While significant widespread flooding is not expected, officials warn that the quake could generate strong currents or waves dangerous to swimmers, boats, and coastal infrastructure. These hazardous conditions may persist for several hours.

Communities outside of Alaska, including California, Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia, are advised to consult the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center for updates.

Further information will be provided at tsunami.gov.

Update: The earthquake was originally reported as magnitude 8.0. Reports now show it was a magnitude 8.7.

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