7.2 magnitude earthquake strikes near Alaska

A powerful 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck near the Alaska Peninsula late Saturday.

Preliminary data placed the quake about 55 miles southwest of Sand Point, Alaska, the National Weather Service said. It had initially been measured at a magnitude of 7.4, the United States Geological Survey said on Twitter.

The quake prompted the National Weather Service in Anchorage to issue a brief tsunami warning, saying there was a risk of "significant inundation," an alert that was downgraded to an advisory before being canceled altogether early Sunday.