7.5 magnitude earthquake and a tsunami warning has been triggered coastal communities, upon hearing the alarm, rushed to higher ground to escape.
But then the Alaska Tsunami Warning Center said waves were too small to pose a threat, only reached six inches above normal sea level in places like Sitka and Port Alexander.
The warning was ultimately canceled because no potentially devastating waves.
"Initially, in the first 15 to 20 minutes, there was a bit of panic," said Sitka Police Chief Sheldon Schmitt told The Associated Press in a telephone interview.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the quake occurred Friday midnight and was centered about 60 miles west of Craig, Alaska, USA.
