Tsunami warning sirens went off in Tofino and other west coast Island communities early this morning after a powerful earthquake struck off the Alaska coast.
Residents in the affected communities were woken by warning sirens including those from first responders, like police, fire and paramedics, going through neighbourhoods shortly after the quake, that had a magnitude of 7 point 9, struck at about 1:30.
In low-lying areas of Victoria and Esquimalt, officials went door-to-door telling people to evacuate.
People were told to move inland or to higher ground.
The tsunami warning covered B.C.’s north coast, Haida Gwaii, the west coast of Vancouver Island, the central coast and northeast Vancouver Island, and along the Juan de Fuca Strait.
Communities along the Georgia Strait, including the Sunshine Coast, Nanaimo and the Cowichan Valley were not affected.
The warning was cancelled shortly after 4.
