Magnitude-7.6 Earthquake Hits Caribbean; Residents Urged to Evacuate Coastal Areas

A 7.6 magnitude earthquake hit the Caribbean Sea near the Cayman Islands, prompting evacuation notices for coastal residents from several countries. Although initial tsunami alerts were issued, they were later lifted. The event caused some panic among residents, but no serious damages have been reported.

A magnitude-7.6 earthquake struck the Caribbean Sea south of the Cayman Islands on Saturday, as reported by the U.S. Geological Survey. The earthquake, which occurred at 6:23 p.m. local time, had a depth of 10 kilometers and its epicenter was located approximately 130 miles (209 kilometers) south-southwest of George Town, Cayman Islands. Authorities on several nearby islands advised residents to evacuate coastal areas, but most tsunami alerts were subsequently lifted.

The U.S. National Tsunami Warning Center indicated that there was no tsunami threat for the U.S. mainland, although a tsunami advisory was issued for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, which was later revoked. The Hazard Management in the Cayman Islands recommended that residents move to higher ground and evacuate coastal regions due to the potential for wave heights between 0.3 to 1 meter. The alert was ultimately declared safe on the Cayman government’s social media platforms.

Governor Jenniffer González Colón of Puerto Rico assured the public she was coordinating with emergency services following the tsunami advisory, yet she did not suggest evacuating coastal areas. The alarms in Puerto Rico’s northwest region led to panic, resulting in significant congestion as individuals left the coast, according to local reports. Similarly, the Dominican Republic initially advised residents to relocate to elevated areas over 20 meters high and at least 2 kilometers inland before later retracting this alert.

In Honduras, officials reported no immediate damages, though they cautioned residents to stay away from beaches as a precautionary measure. The Cuban government also called for evacuations from beachfront locations, while the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the U.S. warned of possible tsunami waves reaching 1 to 3 meters above normal tide levels along some coasts of Cuba.

In summary, a 7.6 magnitude earthquake occurred in the Caribbean, prompting several islands to issue evacuation warnings for coastal residents. While tsunami advisories were briefly in effect, most were canceled without reports of significant damage. Authorities continue to monitor the situation and recommend safety measures for affected regions.

Original Source: www.wilx.com