A powerful 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck the Caribbean Sea southwest of the Cayman Islands on Saturday, as reported by the U.S. Geological Survey. Some islands and coastal areas issued warnings, advising residents to move inland as a precaution against a possible tsunami. (U.S. Geological Survey)
A powerful earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale struck the Caribbean Sea on Saturday evening, causing brief panic and triggering tsunami warnings across several countries. However, authorities later announced that the risk had passed, and all alerts were canceled.
The earthquake's epicenter was located about 20 miles (32.1 km) north of Honduras and 130 miles (209.2 km) southwest of the Cayman Islands. The US Tsunami Warning System initially issued warnings for more than a dozen countries, cautioning that waves as high as 10 feet (3 meters) could hit coastal areas. Additionally, advisories were sent out for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, but these were also withdrawn once the danger subsided.
Following the earthquake, officials in the Cayman Islands advised residents in coastal areas to move inland as a precautionary measure. However, there have been no confirmed reports of damage or casualties so far. Authorities are still monitoring the situation closely.
This was the strongest earthquake to hit the region in recent years. The last major quake of this magnitude occurred in 2021 when a 7.2-magnitude tremor struck Haiti, causing widespread destruction. The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration noted that earthquakes of this size are not uncommon in the Caribbean, which lies along active geological fault lines.
The US Geological Survey (USGS) also pointed out that a similar earthquake, measuring 7.5, had struck nearby in 2018, leading to minor damage and a small tsunami. However, they reassured the public that because these earthquakes occur in relatively remote locations, the chances of large-scale destruction are significantly reduced.
Although the immediate tsunami threat has passed, experts warned that minor sea level fluctuations of up to 11.8 inches (30 cm) could still occur for a few hours. Authorities continue to keep an eye on the region for any aftershocks.
Meanwhile, the US National Tsunami Warning Center confirmed that there are no alerts in place for the mainland United States.
