A powerful 7.8 magnitude earthquake hit the Alaska Peninsula on Tuesday at about 11:12 p.m. A tsunami warning has been issued.

The earthquake had a depth of six miles or 9.6 kilometers and was centered 60 miles south-southeast of Perryville, Alaska.

CNN meteorologist Allison Chinchar said anything below 70 kilometers is considered a shallow quake.

"That's important, because shallow earthquakes often cause the most damage, compared to the ones that are deeper, regardless of the strength," Chinchar was quoted in a CNN report.

Report said the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center canceled the tsunami warning for South Alaska, the Alaska Peninsula, and the Aleutian Islands early Wednesday.

A tsunami advisory was also canceled on Tuesday evening for coastal areas east and west of the tsunami warning areas.

The CNN reported that there is no threat of tsunami in Hawaii, Washington, Oregon, and California.

CNN meteorologist Pedam Javheri said there have been at least 11 aftershocks with magnitudes ranging from 3.9 to 6.1.

Reports said a local high school on Kodiak Island opened its door for evacuees, as well as a local Catholic school.

Superintendent of the Kodiak School District Larry LeDoux said high schools are full of people as of now.

 "I've been passing out masks since the first siren sounded," he was quoted in a report.

LeDoux said they have probably got around 300 or 400 people all wearing mask.

1964 Alaska Earthquake

The 1964 Alaska earthquake struck Alaska's Prince William Sound, about 74 miles southeast of Anchorage. This was recorded as the strongest earthquake ever recorded in North America.

The earthquake was so powerful that it registered in all U.S. states, except  Connecticut, Rhode Island and Delaware.

This led to many important scientific discoveries in subduction earthquakes and how to reduce their destruction, according to the History channel site.

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