A major earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 7.2 hit the Pacific Ocean off Alaska’s remote Aleutian Islands today, prompting a tsunami alert and sending people fleeing to high ground.

A huge 8.3 magnitude earthquake off Japan’s northern coast sparked a tsunami warning today, sending thousands along the archipelago’s eastern coast fleeing to higher ground.

A US coastguard rescue helicopter ferrying crew members from a powerless bulk freighter that was drifting toward shore crashed into the Bering Sea, and six of the aircraft’s 10 passengers were still missing in the rough and frigid waters.