A magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Thursday off Russia’s Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky region has triggered a tsunami advisory for Alaska’s Aleutian Islands, according to the U.S. Tsunami Warning System.

The threat to Washington state and other Pacific Coast regions was “undetermined” and “still being evaluated,” the Washington Emergency Management Division said in a Facebook post at 12:40 p.m. Sept. 18. In a follow-up post at 1:41 p.m., the agency said there “is no tsunami threat to Washington at this time.”

“Updates will follow as more data is gathered,” the agency said. “For more information, check www.tsunami.gov.”

The earthquake follows the massive 8.8-magnitude earthquake that struck off Russia’s coast on July 29. That quake triggered multiple tsunami alerts for the United States West Coast and sent tsunami waves to Washington state. However, no widespread damage or injuries were reported in the state.

What Do the Tsunami Alerts Mean?

The National Weather Service said the tsunami warning centers issue tsunami messages to alert local authorities and the public of a possible tsunami. There are four levels of tsunami alerts, according to the weather service:

• Tsunami Information Statement: “Relax—An earthquake has occurred, but there is no threat, or it was very far away, and the threat has not been determined. In most cases, there is no threat of a destructive tsunami.”
• Tsunami Warning: “Take Action—Danger! A tsunami that may cause widespread flooding is expected or occurring. Dangerous coastal flooding and powerful currents are possible and may continue for several hours or days after initial arrival.”
• Tsunami Advisory: “Take Action—A tsunami with potential for strong currents or waves dangerous to those in or very near the water is expected or occurring. There may be flooding of beach and harbor areas.”
• Tsunami Watch: “Be Prepared—A distant earthquake has occurred. A tsunami is possible.”

Preparing for a Tsunami

The Washington State Department of Natural Resources says to immediately get to higher ground in the event of a tsunami or a tsunami warning.

According to the department, a tsunami may be approaching if you:

• Notice a landslide that falls into the ocean, a large lake or a river
• Hear a tsunami warning siren or receive a tsunami alert
• Feel a strong earthquake near the ocean or a large lake
• Notice a very large wave coming
• See coastal waters recede
• Notice that the sea level is rising rapidly

The department says people should evacuate immediately if they notice any of these signs or hear a tsunami warning.

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Contributing: USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: Tsunami danger being evaluated for Washington state after 7.8-magnitude earthquake
Reporting by Andre Byik, Kitsap Sun / Kitsap Sun
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