Unalaska residents reacted swiftly following a tsunami warning triggered by a 7.3 earthquake that struck this evening 108 miles east of Atka at 7:09 p.m. local time.

Hundreds of people sought high ground and vessels left the harbor as the city's tsunami sirens blared warning against a potential tsunami that threatened low-lying areas. An evacuation order was given advising people to move to at least 50 feet above sea level.

By about 8:20 p.m. the Unalaska Public Safety Department confirmed that no wave had been generated and gave the all-clear sign that it was safe for people to return to the downtown area and people walked, drove and rode in the back of pickup trucks to the downtown area as boats returned to the harbor.

Here is the full adivsory issued by the West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center in Palmer at 8:19 p.m.:

The Tsunami Warning is canceled for the coastal areas from Unimak Pass, Alaska (80 miles NE of Dutch Harbor) to Amchitka Pass, Alaska (125 miles W of Adak).

NO destructive tsunami has been recorded, and NO tsunami danger exists along the coasts of the U.S. west coast states, Alaska, and British Columbia. Local authorities can assume all clear upon receipt of this message.

At 7:10 PM Alaskan Daylight Time on June 23, an earthquake with preliminary magnitude 7.3 occurred 20 miles/32 Km southeast of Amukta Pass, Alaska . (Refer to the United States Geological Survey for official earthquake parameters.)

Pacific coastal regions outside California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and Alaska should refer to the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center messages for information on the event.

This will be the last West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Center message issued for this event. To repeat, NO tsunami warning, watch or advisory is in effect for the U.S. West coast states, Alaska, and British Columbia. See the WCATWC web site for basic tsunami information, safety rules, and a tsunami travel time map and table.(NOTE: Travel time maps and tables indicate forecasted times only, not that a wave was generated.)
 

Reporting by Jacob Resneck.