Significant Earthquake in Caribbean Sea Triggers Tsunami Advisory

A 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck the Caribbean Sea, prompting tsunami advisories for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The alerts were canceled shortly after, but caution against strong currents remains. The NOAA indicated potential tsunami waves for Cuba, urging evacuation from beach areas. No alerts were issued for the U.S. mainland and no significant damage was reported.

On Saturday, the Caribbean Sea experienced a significant earthquake, registered at a preliminary magnitude of 7.6 by the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The quake struck approximately 130 miles southwest of Georgetown, Cayman Islands, just prior to 6:30 p.m. local time. Following the seismic event, there was a temporary tsunami threat issued for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, prompting officials to advise residents to avoid beaches and coastal regions due to potential flooding and sea level hazards.

By about 8:15 p.m., the U.S. National Tsunami Warning Center (NTWC) rescinded the tsunami advisory for the affected areas. Despite the lifting of the advisory, the NTWC cautioned that strong and unusual currents might still persist, urging the public to exercise caution near water bodies. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) indicated the potential for tsunami waves of 1 to 3 meters above tide levels affecting specific Cuban coasts, necessitating public vigilance.

The NOAA forecast indicated up to 3 meters of wave height for Cuba, and between 0.3 to 1 meter for Honduras and the Cayman Islands. The Cuban government has responded by advising citizens to evacuate from beachfront zones. It is important to note that actual wave heights might be lower than forecasted due to local geographic factors, as clarified by the NOAA.

Notably, there was no tsunami alert issued for the mainland United States. The USGS attributed the earthquake to a strike-slip fault occurring in the shallow crust along the boundary between the North American and Caribbean tectonic plates, specifying that the rupture occurred on a steeply dipping fault structure.

In summary, a 7.6 magnitude earthquake in the Caribbean Sea raised temporary tsunami advisories for parts of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, which were later lifted. The NOAA reported possible tsunami waves impacting Cuba, with local authorities urging precautionary measures. The geological cause was identified by the USGS as faulting along tectonic plate boundaries, although no immediate damage was reported post-event.

Original Source: wgme.com