7.6-Magnitude Earthquake Hits Caribbean, Tsunami Alerts Issued
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Synopsis
On February 9, a powerful 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck the Caribbean, prompting tsunami warnings in multiple countries. Although most alerts were later canceled, precautionary measures were advised for coastal residents in affected nations.
Key Takeaways
- Magnitude: 7.6 earthquake
- Location: Caribbean Sea, near Cayman Islands
- Tsunami warnings: Issued for several nations
- No immediate casualties: Reports of damage pending
- Evacuations: Advisories in coastal areas
Washington, Feb 9 (NationPress) A strong earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale occurred in the Caribbean Sea, leading to tsunami warnings across several nations, as reported by US monitoring agencies.
The US Geological Survey (USGS) indicated that the tremor hit at a shallow depth of 10 km (6.21 miles) on Saturday evening (local time), with the epicenter situated approximately 130 miles (209 km) north of Honduras, close to the Cayman Islands.
The US Tsunami Warning System initially issued a tsunami alert for the Caribbean Sea and regions north of Honduras. While there was no tsunami threat reported for the US Atlantic or Gulf Coast, advisories were issued for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center mentioned that hazardous tsunami waves could impact coastal areas within 620 miles of the epicenter, including the Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Cuba, Mexico, Honduras, Nicaragua, the Bahamas, Costa Rica, Belize, Haiti, Panama, and Guatemala.
Subsequently, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecasted tsunami waves ranging from 1 to 3 meters above tide level along certain parts of Cuba's coast, while smaller waves between 0.3 to 1 meter were anticipated for Honduras and the Cayman Islands.
After initially warning over a dozen countries, US agencies later retracted most alerts but cautioned that small variations in sea level may occur.
In the meantime, various Caribbean nations, including Honduras, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and the Cayman Islands, have issued evacuation notices for residents living in coastal zones.
The Cayman Islands government advised residents near the shoreline to move inland as a precaution.
Authorities in the affected areas are continuing to evaluate the situation, with no immediate reports of casualties or significant damage.
