ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Communities along a 700-mile stretch of Alaska’s southern coast ordered residents to higher ground after a powerful offshore earthquake Wednesday, but officials quickly downgraded and then canceled a tsunami warning for the region. There were no reports of significant damage..

A HUGE 7.3 magnitude earthquake has struck off the coast of Alaska. A tsunami warning is now in place after the tremors rocked the US state and sent thousands of residents rushing a safe space.

Ground shaking was strongest in Sand Point, with reports of "objects flying out of the pantry and off of shelves," noted the Alaska Earthquake Center.