Significant Earthquake in Caribbean Sea Triggers Tsunami Advisory

A 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck the Caribbean Sea, triggering temporary tsunami advisories for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The NTWC canceled the advisories later, though warnings for unusual currents persisted. Meanwhile, NOAA indicated potential tsunami waves for some coastal areas of Cuba. No damage has been reported following the event.

A notable earthquake measuring 7.6 in magnitude struck the Caribbean Sea on Saturday, as reported by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). The seismic event occurred approximately 130 miles southwest of Georgetown, Cayman Islands at around 6:30 p.m. local time. In the wake of this earthquake, authorities issued a tsunami advisory for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, urging residents to remain away from beaches and coastal waters due to potential flooding and sea level hazards.

The U.S. National Tsunami Warning Center (NTWC) rescinded the tsunami advisory around 8:15 p.m., though they warned of the ongoing risk of strong and unusual currents. “While alerts have ended, strong and unusual currents may continue. Be careful near the water and use caution,” they stated on social media platform X. Meanwhile, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) indicated that Cuba could still experience tsunami waves of 1 to 3 meters above tide levels.

The NOAA provided further context on the situation, highlighting that actual wave amplitudes at coastal areas may differ from forecasts due to various factors. The Cuban government has advised residents to evacuate beachfront zones as a precautionary measure. Notably, there were no tsunami alerts issued for the mainland United States following the earthquake.

According to the USGS, the tectonic activity resulted from strike slip faulting in the shallow crust near the North America-Caribbean plate boundary. They noted that the earthquake’s focal mechanism indicated that the rupture occurred on a steeply dipping structure either striking west-northwest or west-southwest. Fortunately, there were no immediate reports of damage arising from this seismic event.

The significant earthquake in the Caribbean Sea prompted temporary tsunami advisories for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, which were later canceled. While the immediate threat has subsided, authorities continue to advise caution regarding unusual water currents. The event underscored the geological complexities in the region and highlighted the importance of preparedness for such natural phenomena.

Original Source: idahonews.com