Strong Earthquake in Caribbean Sea Triggers Brief Tsunami Alerts

A potent earthquake, registering 7.6 in magnitude, shook the Caribbean Sea on Saturday night. It hit north of Honduras and southwest of the Cayman Islands, triggering temporary tsunami warnings that were eventually retracted.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the earthquake struck at about 6:23 p.m. Eastern Time. The epicenter was located roughly 129 miles southwest of George Town, the Cayman Islands’ capital, and 372 miles west of Kingston, Jamaica.

Following the tremor, the U.S. National Tsunami Warning Center announced a tsunami advisory for Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the British Virgin Islands. However, this advisory was subsequently lifted.

The warning center also identified a “tsunami threat” for Cuba, Honduras, and the Cayman Islands. But, by Saturday night, it declared that “based on the latest modeling and information, the tsunami threat has passed” for the entire area.

No tsunami alerts were issued for the U.S. mainland.

Amidst the uncertainty post-earthquake, authorities in the Cayman Islands and Puerto Rico urged residents to avoid entering the water.

“Even though a high-impact event is not expected, as a precaution, everyone should stay out of the water until further notice. It’s crucial to rely on official updates and refrain from spreading rumors,” advised Ángel Vázquez, head of the Puerto Rico Seismic Network.

Thankfully, there have been no reports of damage from the earthquake itself, as confirmed by the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service in a statement to CBS News.

By late Saturday night, at least 326 people had reported feeling the quake to the USGS.