7.6 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Caribbean, Tsunami Alerts Issued
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Synopsis
A powerful 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck the Caribbean Sea, leading to multiple tsunami warnings across affected countries, as reported by US monitoring agencies. Residents in coastal areas were advised to evacuate as authorities assess the situation.
Key Takeaways
- 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck the Caribbean Sea.
- Tsunami warnings issued for multiple countries.
- Epicenter located 130 miles north of Honduras.
- Evacuation warnings for coastal residents.
- No immediate reports of major damage or casualties.
Washington, Feb 9 (NationPress) A mighty earthquake measuring 7.6 in magnitude struck the Caribbean Sea, prompting tsunami warnings across several nations, as reported by US monitoring agencies.
According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the seismic event occurred at a shallow depth of 10 km (6.21 miles) on Saturday evening (local time), with its epicenter located approximately 130 miles (209 km) north of Honduras, near the Cayman Islands.
The US Tsunami Warning System initially issued a tsunami alert for the Caribbean Sea and regions north of Honduras. While there were no tsunami threats reported for the US Atlantic or Gulf Coast, advisories were given for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center indicated that "hazardous tsunami waves" might impact coastal regions within 620 miles of the epicenter, including the Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Cuba, Mexico, Honduras, Nicaragua, the Bahamas, Costa Rica, Belize, Haiti, Panama, and Guatemala.
Later, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecasted tsunami waves ranging from 1 to 3 meters above tide level along parts of Cuba's coastline, while smaller waves of 0.3 to 1 meter were anticipated for Honduras and the Cayman Islands.
After initially issuing tsunami threats to over a dozen countries, US agencies subsequently cancelled most warnings but mentioned that "small sea level changes may occur."
In the meantime, several Caribbean countries, including Honduras, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and the Cayman Islands, advised evacuations for residents in coastal zones.
The Cayman Islands government urged coastal residents to "move inland" as a precaution.
Authorities in the impacted areas are actively evaluating the situation, with no immediate reports of injuries or significant damage.
