The tsunami threat in the Caribbean has been lifted following a 7.6-magnitude earthquake near the Cayman Islands. Although there were initial fears of significant surges, the effects were less severe, with no injuries reported. Cruise operations are returning to normal, and aftershocks are expected in the following days.
The Caribbean region and cruise ship patrons can now breathe easier as tsunami advisories following a 7.6-magnitude earthquake near the Cayman Islands on February 8 have been lifted. The National Weather Service (NWS) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has confirmed that no significant surges were reported, only minor unusual currents may affect limited areas.
The NWS indicated that the threat has passed, stating, “With the latest modeling and information, the tsunami threat has passed.” There are currently no tsunami alerts for the United States or its international partners. Initial concerns suggested possible surges of up to 10 feet; however, the earthquake’s impact has proven to be less severe than anticipated.
As of February 9, the U.S. Geological Survey reported over 350 individuals who felt the earthquake, with no severe damages or injuries recorded. Cruise ships in the vicinity are resuming their itineraries, including the Celebrity Summit, which remained in George Town, Grand Cayman for an extended five hours but has since departed for Fort Lauderdale.
Regent Seven Seas’ Seven Seas Grandeur is currently sailing towards Falmouth, Jamaica, having departed Costa Maya, Mexico, during the earthquake. High alerts were initially issued for Jamaica, the Cayman Islands, Honduras, Haiti, Belize, Cuba, the Virigin Islands, The Bahamas, and Puerto Rico following the earthquake event at 6:23 p.m. local time on February 8, 2023.
During the earthquake response, it was discovered that five out of six Deep-ocean Assessment and Reporting of Tsunamis (DART) buoys near the Cayman Islands were non-operational. Royal Caribbean’s meteorologist Craig Setzer commented, “Buoy 42409 in the central Gulf apparently recorded the ‘shaking’ as a series of deep-water waves passed, but not tsunami waves. The other buoys are reporting ‘NO DATA.’”
Although the tsunami warnings are lifted, experts advise that aftershocks are likely in the following days. Dani Coleman, director of Hazard Management Cayman Islands stated, “We have no doubt that there will be aftershocks over the next couple of days.” The public is encouraged to remain vigilant and follow official channels for updates regarding potential seismic activity.
Ships at sea remain largely unaffected by earthquakes happening at significant depths and are designed to withstand rough conditions that may result from seismic disturbances. The tender port in George Town has no scheduled calls for February 9, with the Independence of the Seas set to arrive on February 10, and both Seven Seas Grandeur and Disney Treasure expected on February 11, with no warnings currently issued by the Cayman Islands port authority ahead of these arrivals.
In summary, the tsunami threat in the Caribbean following the February 8 earthquake has been officially lifted with no significant impacts observed. While aftershocks are anticipated, passengers and cruise operations can resume regular activities without further concerns regarding a tsunami. Authorities encourage ongoing vigilance as the situation develops, assuring that safety protocols are in place should additional seismic events occur.
Original Source: www.cruisehive.com
