A magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck the Caribbean Sea, triggering a temporary tsunami advisory for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The advisory was canceled later in the evening due to a lack of immediate threat, although caution was advised due to unusual currents. The NOAA reported potential tsunami waves for certain coastal areas of Cuba, and no damage has been reported following the event.
A significant earthquake, measured at a preliminary magnitude of 7.6, struck the Caribbean Sea on Saturday, as reported by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The epicenter was located approximately 130 miles southwest of Georgetown, Cayman Islands, occurring shortly before 6:30 p.m. local time. In response to the earthquake, a temporary tsunami advisory was issued for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, prompting authorities to caution residents to avoid beaches and coastal areas due to potential flooding and sea level hazards.
Later in the evening, at around 8:15 p.m., the U.S. National Tsunami Warning Center (NTWC) rescinded the tsunami advisory for those regions. Nevertheless, the NTWC warned that “strong and unusual currents may continue” in the waters, urging vigilance while near coastal areas. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) indicated that tsunami waves could range between 1 to 3 meters above the tide along certain sections of Cuba, with lower projections for Honduras and the Cayman Islands.
The government of Cuba has advised the evacuation of beachfront areas in light of the potential tsunami threat. The NOAA emphasized that actual wave amplitudes may differ from forecasts due to local geographical features and uncertainties inherent in the predictions. Importantly, no tsunami threat was identified for the mainland United States following the event, as clarified by the NTWC.
USGS experts explained that the earthquake resulted from “strike slip faulting in the shallow crust near the boundary between the North America and Caribbean plates.” They noted that the rupture likely occurred on a steeply dipping fault structure, indicating either a west-northwest or west-southwest orientation. Fortunately, there have been no reports of damage following this notable seismic activity.
In summary, a notable earthquake with a magnitude of 7.6 rocked the Caribbean Sea, leading to a temporary tsunami advisory for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, which was later canceled. The NOAA reported potential tsunami waves up to 3 meters for Cuba, prompting evacuations along its coast. Authorities advised caution due to strong currents in the aftermath, although no damage has been reported. The earthquake was attributed to tectonic activity near the plate boundary, with no threats to the U.S. mainland.
Original Source: idahonews.com
