Powerful Earthquake Jars Caribbean Sea Sending Nations on Alert

A powerful 7.6-magnitude earthquake shook the Caribbean Sea just south of the Cayman Islands this past Saturday, as reported by the U.S. Geological Survey. In response, several island nations and territories advised residents near the coastlines to seek safety inland, though many regions later rescinded these tsunami warnings.

The quake was recorded at 6:23 p.m. local time, striking centrally in the sea at a depth of 10 kilometers. The USGS pinpointed its epicenter approximately 130 miles (209 kilometers) south-southwest of George Town, located in the Cayman Islands.

The U.S. National Tsunami Warning Center confirmed the absence of a tsunami threat to the U.S. mainland but initially issued a tsunami advisory for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, which was subsequently canceled.

In the Cayman Islands, Hazard Management urged residents near the coastline to move inland to higher elevations, anticipating wave heights from 0.3 to 1 meter. However, the Cayman Islands government eventually gave an “all clear” announcement via Facebook.

Puerto Rico’s Gov. Jenniffer González Colón communicated that she was coordinating with emergency agencies following the tsunami advisory, yet she stopped short of recommending evacuation from coastal areas.

In Puerto Rico’s northwest, alarms prompted coastal evacuations and caused significant traffic congestion, as noted by local media sources.

In the Dominican Republic, authorities initially advised residents to evacuate coastal areas, seeking altitudes over 20 meters and moving 2 kilometers inland. However, they later withdrew this alert.

Honduran officials reported no immediate damage but urged individuals to avoid beaches.

Meanwhile, the Cuban government advised its citizens to evacuate beachfront regions.

The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration mentioned that “tsunami waves reaching 1 to 3 meters above the tide level are possible along some sections of Cuba’s coast.”