An estimated magnitude 7.6 earthquake hit the Caribbean Sea on Saturday, north of Honduras, and neighboring islands and countries issued potential tsunami warnings
A powerful earthquake, estimated at a magnitude of 7.6 struck the Caribbean Sea north of Honduras on Saturday, prompting neighboring islands and countries to issue potential tsunami warnings.
The Tsunami Warning Center initially reported the quake as a magnitude 8 before revising it making it the largest earthquake to hit the world since 2023.
The tremor was felt 202 km southwest of George Town in the Cayman Islands. Following the quake, NOAA reported that potential tsunami threat warnings were issued by Colombia, Haiti, Belize, Saba, Aruba, Curacao, Costa Rica, the Bahamas, Cuba, the Cayman Islands, Panama, the Dominican Republic, the Turks and Caicos Islands, Honduras, Mexico, Bonaire, Guatemala, and Jamaica.
Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands also issued tsunami advisories. Back in December 2024, an estimated magnitude 5.9 earthquake shook several Caribbean countries, triggering an emergency assessment of disaster relief operations, reports the Express US.
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“The Cayman Islands is under a Tsunami threat. Residents living near the coastline are encouraged to move inland,” the government of the Cayman Islands hazard management agency said.
If tsunami waves were to be generated from the massive quake they are forecasted to reach Puerto Rico’s western coast at around 8:48 p.m. EST (9:48 p.m. local time), The Weather Channel reported. This is about 30 minutes before the first waves would reach the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Early warning signs of a potential tsunami can be the sea water at the shoreline receding into the ocean. Many islands in the region are under what is known as a tsunami advisory meaning the quake could cause dangerous currents or waves. Residents are advised to out of the water and away from beaches and waterways.
