Powerful Earthquake Strikes Caribbean, Tsunami Threat Diminishes for Islands

A major earthquake rocked the Caribbean, but no damage was reported immediately following the tremor. The seismic event occurred along the Cayman Trough, a fault line that separates the North American and Caribbean tectonic plates.

A Tsunami Advisory was briefly in effect for Puerto Rico and nearby islands on Saturday evening after a strong earthquake struck between Honduras and the Cayman Islands in the Caribbean Sea.

With an initial magnitude of 7.6, the earthquake prompted officials to issue warnings about potential sea-level variations and strong currents that could pose risks to boaters and beachgoers.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) confirmed that the epicenter was located over 100 miles southwest of George Town in the Cayman Islands. Despite the intensity of the quake, there were no immediate reports of destruction.

The U.S. National Tsunami Warning Center (NTWC) noted that the most significant water level rise was observed off the coast of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula.

At Isla Mujeres, an observation station recorded a 1.2-inch sea-level increase. Although seemingly minor, the NTWC classified this rise as a tsunami.

The USGS indicated that mild tremors may have been felt across the Caribbean, extending from the Yucatán Peninsula down through Nicaragua and Honduras, and possibly as far north as Cuba’s southern coastline.

Emergency response agencies across Central America and the Caribbean confirmed no injuries in the immediate aftermath.

The Cayman Trough fault line, which runs near the Cayman Islands, serves as the boundary between the North American and Caribbean tectonic plates.

Aftershocks could persist for months or even years, though the USGS noted that subsequent tremors are usually weaker than the initial quake.

Tsunamis are relatively rare in the Caribbean, as regional fault lines typically do not generate large seawater displacements.

According to the University of the West Indies, only ten significant tsunamis triggered by earthquakes have been recorded in the region over the past 500 years.

7 Key Facts About Earthquakes in the Caribbean

1. Earthquakes are common in the Caribbean, with some causing severe destruction.
2. In 2021, a magnitude-7.2 earthquake struck southern Haiti, damaging infrastructure, though Port-au-Prince was largely spared.
3. Haiti was also devastated in 2010 by a magnitude-7.0 earthquake. Due to its shallow depth and proximity to the capital, the disaster resulted in more than 200,000 deaths, according to the United Nations.
4. A magnitude-7.7 earthquake struck off Jamaica’s coast in 2020, causing tremors from Central America to South Florida but no major damage.
5. The Caribbean is seismically active due to its position at multiple tectonic plate boundaries.
6. Earthquakes can trigger landslides, infrastructure damage, and tsunamis, posing severe risks to affected regions.
7. Improved monitoring systems provide early warnings, but preparedness is key to minimizing earthquake-related dangers.

Tsunami Advisory Lifted for Puerto Rico and Virgin Islands Following 7.6-Magnitude Earthquake

A powerful earthquake registering 7.6 on the Richter scale struck the Caribbean Sea on Saturday, as confirmed by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), initially prompting a tsunami advisory.

The earthquake occurred 129 miles southwest of George Town, Cayman Islands, at 6:23 p.m. ET, according to the USGS.

The U.S. National Tsunami Warning Center (NTWC) first issued a tsunami advisory for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, urging residents to stay away from the water, beaches, harbors, marinas, bays, and inlets, and to refrain from approaching shorelines to observe the tsunami.

Later, the NTWC rescinded the advisory for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. However, warnings remained in place for Cuba, where tsunami waves of 1 to 3 meters above tide level were projected. Additionally, alerts continued for Honduras and the Cayman Islands, where waves ranging from 30 centimeters to 1 meter above tide level were expected.

These waves were anticipated to reach the affected areas between 8 p.m. ET and 10:30 p.m. ET.