US officers have issued a tsunami warning for Alaska after the state's southwestern coast was rocked by a 7.3 magnitude earthquake.

The quake struck southwest of Sand Point at 11.48pm PDT (06.48am UTC) on Saturday.

The National Tsunami Warning Center mentioned: "Tsunami warning in effect for South Alaska and the Alaska Peninsula, Pacific coasts from Kennedy Entrance, Alaska (40 miles SW of Homer) to Unman Pass, Alaska (80 miles NE of Unalaska).

"For different US and Canadian Pacific coasts in North America, the extent of tsunami hazard is being evaluated.

"Further information will be provided in supplementary messages."

An emergency alert despatched to the telephones of residents warned that "powerful waves" might hit the southwestern Alaskan coast due to the sturdy earthquake.

The alert learn: "The National Weather Service has issued a tsunami warning. A series of powerful waves and strong currents may impact costs near you. You are in danger.

"Get away from coastal waters. Move to excessive floor or inland now. Keep away from the coast till native officers say it's protected to return."

According to early data from the US Geological Survey, the epicentre of the earthquake was located 106 kilometres south of Sand Point, which has a population of 1,000. The source was at a depth of 6.11 kilometres.

The areas affected by the alert include the Kodiak Islands, which are home to more than 13,000 people, the southern Kanai Peninsula, home to 59,767 people according to the 2021 census, and the Alaska Peninsula.

According to the Alaskan Earthquake Center, the ripples of the quake were felt widely across the Aleutian Islands, the Alaskan Peninsula and the Cook Inlet regions.

The Center said seismic activity in the area is the result of the multi-faceted tectonic features that characterize the area.

They said: "The Aleutian-Alaska Benioff zone produces 1000's of earthquakes every year, most of that are too deep and too small to be felt.

"The most notable examples of such earthquakes are the 1999 M7.0 and 2001 M6.9 Kodiak Island events.

"Both occasions brought on harm and disruption to the City of Kodiak and different communities on the island."