On Saturday, a 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck in the Caribbean Sea, triggering tsunami advisories for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Although the tsunami advisory was later revoked, potential risks remained, particularly for Cuba, where tsunami waves of 1 to 3 meters were forecasted. No tsunami alerts were issued for the U.S. mainland, and no immediate damage was reported.
A significant earthquake of preliminary magnitude 7.6 occurred in the Caribbean Sea on Saturday evening, as reported by the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The quake struck approximately 130 miles southwest of Georgetown, Cayman Islands, at around 6:30 p.m. local time.
In response to the earthquake, a temporary tsunami advisory was issued for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, prompting officials to caution residents against approaching beaches and coastal waters due to possible sea level hazards and flooding risk. However, at approximately 8:15 p.m., the U.S. National Tsunami Warning Center (NTWC) announced the cancellation of the advisory.
Despite the cancellation, the NTWC warned that “strong and unusual currents may continue,” urging people to exercise caution when near water. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) also forecasted potential tsunami waves ranging from 1 to 3 meters above tide levels along certain coasts of Cuba, with specific advisories for Jamaica and Honduras too, indicating that certain areas faced a significant risk.
The Cuban government, as reported by The Associated Press, instructed residents to evacuate from beachfront areas as a precaution. It is essential to note that the NOAA cautioned that the actual wave heights may vary due to forecast uncertainties and local geographic features. Importantly, no tsunami alert was issued for the mainland United States.
The USGS further indicated that the earthquake’s origin was a product of strike-slip faulting within the shallow crust along the boundary of the North American and Caribbean tectonic plates. They provided a technical explanation of the mechanism, stating that rupture occurred along a steeply dipping structure with directional strikes denoted as either west-northwest or west-southwest.
In summary, a notable earthquake struck the Caribbean Sea, inciting temporary tsunami advisories for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, which were later canceled. The NOAA confirmed potential tsunami waves could affect certain areas, particularly Cuba. Residents were urged to maintain caution due to the possibility of continued strong currents in the water. Fortunately, no significant damage has been reported as of now.
Original Source: idahonews.com
