Mexico City: A massive 7.6-magnitude earthquake hit the Caribbean Sea southwest of the Cayman Islands on Saturday evening, prompting tsunami advisories and evacuation alerts across multiple regions. According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the quake struck at 6:23 p.m. local time, with its epicenter 130 miles (209 km) south-southwest of George Town, Cayman Islands, at a depth of 10 kilometers.
While the U.S. National Tsunami Warning Center confirmed no tsunami threat to the U.S. mainland, advisories were issued for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Evacuation and Safety Alerts Across the Caribbean:
Cayman Islands: Coastal residents were advised to move inland and seek higher ground, with expected wave heights between 0.3 and 1 meter.
Puerto Rico: Governor Jenniffer González Colón stated that emergency teams were monitoring the situation, though no immediate evacuations were required.
Dominican Republic: Authorities issued a tsunami alert, urging coastal residents to move at least 20 meters above sea level and 2 kilometers inland. Ships were advised to stay away from the sea.
Cuba: The government ordered the evacuation of beachfront areas as a precautionary measure.
Honduras: No significant damage was reported, but officials advised residents to stay away from beaches.
The U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) warned that tsunami waves between 1 and 3 meters above tide level could impact parts of Cuba’s coast, while smaller waves (0.3 to 1 meter) were expected along the shores of Honduras and the Cayman Islands. However, NOAA emphasized that actual wave heights may vary depending on local coastal conditions.
Authorities across the Caribbean continue to assess the impact and monitor the situation closely.
