Magnitude 7.6 earthquake strikes in the Western Caribbean
A magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck in the western Caribbean on Saturday night, prompting a tsunami advisory for the Cayman Islands, while Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands were later cleared of any threat.
The temblor occurred at 6:23 p.m. ET at a depth of about six miles below the surface, approximately 130 miles south-southwest of George Town, Cayman Islands, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
Following an initial tsunami alert, the Cayman Islands’ hazard management agency later issued an “all clear” for Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman, stating that no tsunami was observed.
“This was a large earthquake, and [we] are thankful that no major damage has been reported across our islands,” said Danielle Coleman, director of Hazard Management Cayman Islands.
Shortly after the quake, authorities had urged residents along the Cayman Islands’ coastlines to move inland as a precaution. The hazard management agency described tsunamis as deceptively powerful, warning that even waves as small as 1.5 feet could cause significant destruction due to their wide impact.
The U.S. Tsunami Warning System also issued an alert for Cuba, predicting waves between 3 feet and 10 feet high. However, no active warnings or advisories remained overnight for the region, including Cuba.
A now-canceled National Weather Service advisory had also warned residents of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands to take precautions, citing the potential for dangerous waves or currents.
Puerto Rico’s Governor Jenniffer González Colón advised residents to leave the water immediately, particularly along the island’s west and south coasts. “Although no major impact event is anticipated, as a safety precaution no one should be in the water until further notice,” she said.
The USGS initially recorded the earthquake at a magnitude of 8.0 but later revised it to 7.6 after reassessing the data. The agency noted that the quake was centered near a strike-slip fault along the boundary of the North American and Caribbean tectonic plates, an area known for large seismic activity.
“Large earthquakes at this location of the plate boundary are not unexpected,” the USGS stated, noting that at least ten magnitude 6 or greater earthquakes have occurred in the region over the last century. A notable event was a magnitude 7.5 earthquake on January 10, 2018, which caused some damage and triggered a small tsunami.
Despite the strength of Saturday’s earthquake, the remote location limited its potential for significant damage.
Credit: NBC News
