A HUGE 7.9-magnitude earthquake off the coast of Alaska sparked tsunami warnings down the whole West Coast of the US and Canada today.

Residents in coastal towns close to the epicentre were woken in the night by warning sirens and urged to flee their homes for ground at least 100ft above sea level amid warnings of an “extraordinary threat to life”.

After a few intense hours, the tsunami warning was cancelled allowing people to return home from shelters. There were no immediate reports of damage.

9 The 7.9 magnitude earthquake struck out at sea in the Gulf of Alaska

British Columbia in Canada, along with Washington, Oregon, California and Hawaii were all put on tsunami watch – with San Franciscans told to prepare for a possible evacuation.

Residents living close to the epicentre of the quake spoke of being woken in the dead of night by warning sirens.

Tsunami alarms rang out out across Kodiak, located about 157 miles north-west of where the tremor struck, prompting a massive evacuation.

What we know so far:

An earthquake of 7.9 magnitude struck off the coast of Alaska at 9.30am GMT

The quake triggered tsunami alerts along the whole US West Coast

Residents living near the epicentre were woken by warning sirens

Locals in towns like Kodiak were urged to flee their homes and head for higher ground at least 100ft above sea level

A buoy out at sea near the epicentre detected a 32ft wave soon after the tremor

Tsunami watches for British Columbia in Canada, along with Washington, Oregon, California and Hawaii have been cancelled

The tsunami warning was later cancelled, allowing people to return home from shelters. There were no immediate reports of damage

Sirens blast in Kodiak after Alaska earthquake prompts tsunami alert

9 People were seen fleeing the city of Kodiak in Alaska in their cars Credit: Reuters

9 Residents are pictured running form their homes as alarms ring out Credit: Twitter

9 Kodiak was evacuated as tsunami warnings were issued for the US and Canadian West Coast Credit: Sky News

9 People are seen huddled in an emergency centre in Tofino, Canada Credit: Cover Images

Locals were seen fleeing the city in their cars as authorities ordered them to head to higher ground after a 32ft wave was detected out at sea.

Kodiak cop Sgt Beaver told social media users in the town: “This is not a drill, this is a tsunami warning. Everybody get at least 100ft above sea level.”

The Anchorage Office of Emergency Management warned those living in coastal areas of Alaska and British Columbia: "If you are located in this coastal area, move inland to higher ground.

"Tsunami warnings mean that a tsunami with significant inundation is possible or is already occurring.

"Tsunamis are a series of waves dangerous many hours after initial arrival time. The first wave may not be the largest."

9 This advice was earlier issued to people in the warning areas Credit: Twitter

Evacuations in Kodiak, Alaska after 8.2 magnitude earthquake sparks tsunami warning for US west coast

From Kodiak Island, Alaska on Snap Maps, which just experienced a second earthquake, with a tsunami still incoming. Scary footage. pic.twitter.com/8qMZKwIO2j — Daniel Sinclair (@_DanielSinclair) January 23, 2018

9 Authorities sent out text message warnings urging people to flee to high ground

Police in Kodiak in Alaska tell people to get 'at least 100 feet above sea level' after earthquake sparks US west coast tsunami fear

9 This chart explains the difference between tsunami watches and warnings Credit: Twitter

Meanwhile, Alaskans took to social media to tell of their terror at being forced to flee their homes in the night.

One Twitter user wrote: “Tsunami sirens going off in Kodiak after the earthquake, I usually only ever hear the weekly siren test at 2pm on Wednesdays so hearing it at 1am on Tuesday is actually terrifying!!”

Residents of Anchorage - Alaska's largest city located around 500 miles from the epicentre - said they were alerted to it by text messages.

"Shook the house pretty good and just kept going. Hope the people down south are alright."

Shaun Dyess wrote: "I’m here in anchorage Alaska. It was shaking for along time. Hope no one got hurt."

And JoLynn Lund tweeted: The #earthquake was enough to wake you. The #tsunami alert alarm gets you out of bed."

9 A map shows the estimated times a wave would take to reach different regions Credit: Twitter

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Alaska Governor Bill Walker said earlier: “We are closely monitoring the earthquake and tsunami warnings affecting many coastal communities this morning.

“I have been in contact with local officials, resident, and Major General Hummel and will remain in close communication with them throughout the day.

“Please heed local warnings to move inland or to higher ground.

“My thanks to first responders and media outlets across the state for going beyond the call of duty to keep Alaskans safe.”

What happens next?

People close to the epicentre of the quake were ordered to flee their homes and head to higher ground at least 100ft above sea level.

In Alaska, people packed into high schools and other evacuation centres after the quake hit shortly after midnight local time (9am GMT).

People were asked to remain there and refrain from returning to their homes until the all-clear was given.

The tsunami warning was later cancelled, allowing people to return home from shelters

Has this happened before?

The infamous Good Friday Earthquake which hit Alaska in 1964 sparked numerous tsunamis inflicting heavy damage on Kodiak, along with Valdez, Whittier and Seward.

Anchorage – the biggest city in Alaska – was hit by multiple landslides, destroying city blocks and neighbourhoods.

An estimated 139 people were killed, most by tsunamis – including 16 deaths in Oregon and California.

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