ALASKA has been hit by an 8.2 magnitude earthquake sparking a huge tsunami warning across the US West Coast, Hawaii and Canada. A horrifying graphic reveals the true extent of the tsunami warning.
The Alaska earthquake struck 157 miles south-east of Chiniak, at 9.31am GMT (12.31am local time) on Tuesday, January 23.
The Alaska earthquake prompted a tsunami warning for parts of Alaska and Canada and a tsunami watch for the entire US West Coast, the US Tsunami Warning System said.
The NWS Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said that, based on the preliminary earthquake parameters, "widespread hazardous tsunami waves were possible".
A shocking video reveals the huge scale of the tsunami warning, with rings spreading across the Pacific Ocean as a result of the tremors.
The quake had a depth of around six miles, according to USGS.
It is already expected to be one of the largest quakes in US history.
Details on damage and casualties have not yet emerged.
Alaska is situated on the Ring of Fire, a huge area in the basin of the Pacific Ocean where earthquakes and volcanic eruptions frequently occur.
A buoy has recorded a wave of 10-metres (32ft) just northeast of the epicentre of the Alaska earthquake
Experts suggest the first waves could start hitting from 1.45 am, in the town of Kodiak.
A map from the tsunami warning system showed the travel times for any potential waves.
According to their estimates, any tsunami would take at least three hours to strike the lower 49 states.
Only four earthquakes with a greater magnitude have ever been recorded in the USA.
And all of them were in Alaska, causing a tsunami on each occasion.
The most powerful earthquake was on March 27, 1964, when a 9.2 magnitude quake killed 139 people.
People in areas at risk from the tsunami threat have been warned of the dangers by text message.
Those in affected areas have been urged to seek high ground.
In a warning for Alaska and British Columbia, Anchorage Office of Emergency Management said: “If you are located in this coastal area, move inland to higher ground. Tsunami warnings mean that a tsunami with significant inundation is possible or is already occurring.”
Japan's meteorological agency said it was monitoring the situation but has not issued a tsunami alert.
NBC News meteorologist Bill Karins said: “We know one of the buoys showed a significant water rise right next to where the earthquake happened but the next buoy didn’t seem to experience that.
"We don’t know yet what this means. It could have malfunctioned. We just don’t know at this stage. It’s too early to tell.
"If anyone is still on the coast, the message is still get out of the way until we know more.”