A tsunami advisory was issued for Puerto Rico and nearby islands after a powerful 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck the Caribbean Sea between Honduras and the Cayman Islands on Saturday evening.
Authorities warned of potential sea-level fluctuations and strong ocean currents that could pose dangers to boaters and beachgoers. However, there were no immediate reports of damage following the quake, which was centered over 100 miles southwest of Georgetown, Cayman Islands, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).
The earthquake originated along the Cayman Trough, a fault line marking the boundary between the North American and Caribbean tectonic plates. Experts warn that aftershocks could continue for months or even years as the fault readjusts, though they are usually weaker than the main quake.
“This was a large earthquake and [we] are thankful that no major damage has been reported across our Islands,” Danielle Coleman, director of Hazard Management Cayman Islands, said in a statement.
Earthquakes are common in the Caribbean, with some proving catastrophic. In 2021, a 7.2-magnitude earthquake struck Haiti, causing severe infrastructure damage. The nation also suffered a devastating 7.0-magnitude quake in 2010, which, due to its shallow depth and proximity to the capital, resulted in over 200,000 deaths.
Gov. Jenniffer González Colón of Puerto Rico advised residents to “get out of the water immediately, especially on the west and south coasts of the island” — as a precaution — according to a statement.
In 2020, a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck off the coast of Jamaica, with shaking felt from Central America to South Florida. While no major damage was reported, it was a stark reminder of the region’s seismic activity.
