MEXICO CITY — On Saturday, a powerful 7.6 magnitude earthquake rattled the Caribbean Sea, southwest of the Cayman Islands, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The earthquake struck at 6:23 p.m. local time, approximately 130 miles (209 kilometers) south-southwest of George Town in the Cayman Islands. The quake had a depth of 10 kilometers, with its epicenter located deep in the sea.
In response to the quake, several islands and countries along the coast issued tsunami warnings and advisories. While there was no tsunami alert for the U.S. mainland, the U.S. National Tsunami Warning Center did issue a tsunami advisory for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. However, the advisory was later canceled.
In Puerto Rico, the sounding of tsunami alarms prompted coastal evacuations and heavy traffic, according to local media reports. The government of Puerto Rico, led by Governor Jenniffer González Colón, stated that while there was no immediate evacuation order, she was in contact with emergency agencies for further updates.
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In the Cayman Islands, the Hazard Management team urged residents in coastal areas to move inland and seek higher ground, as wave heights were expected to range between 0.3 to 1 meter.
The Dominican Republic followed suit, issuing a tsunami alert and advising residents on the coast to seek refuge in areas more than 20 meters above sea level and at least 2 kilometers inland. This alert was eventually called off.
Cuba and the Bahamas also took precautionary measures, with Cuba urging its citizens to leave beachfront areas and the Bahamas issuing a tsunami advisory, advising residents to remain vigilant.
Authorities in Honduras reported no immediate damage but advised people to stay away from beaches for safety.
The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported that tsunami waves reaching 1 to 3 meters above the tide level could impact some coasts of Cuba. However, NOAA cautioned that actual wave heights could vary due to uncertainties in forecasts and local conditions.
As of now, no major damages have been reported from the affected regions, but residents continue to monitor the situation closely.
