Big Earthquake Strikes Alaskan Islands, Triggers Tsunami Warning

A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck Alaska's Aleutian Islands in the wee hours of the morning today (Sept. 2), prompting a tsunami warning in the Pacific Ocean that was then canceled about an hour later.

The earthquake, originally reported to be a 7.1 magnitude, was later revised down by the U.S. Geological Survey. It occurred in the Fox Islands, about 1,030 miles (1,658 kilometers) from Anchorage at 6:55 a.m. EDT (1:55 a.m. local time).

The rupture occurred about 22 miles (35 km) below the Earth's surface. The Aleutian Islands are no strangers to the Earth's rumblings, as they are part of the seismically and volcanically active Pacific Ring of Fire .

The tsunami warning was issued initially, but no tsunami waves were recorded and the warning was rescinded.

The island chain's Cleveland Volcano has recently been stirring , growing a new lava dome atop its peak.

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