7.6 Quake Spurs Tsunami Threat in Caribbean

A powerful 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck the Caribbean Sea southwest of the Cayman Islands on Saturday night, prompting a tsunami threat for several regions including Cuba, Honduras, and the Cayman Islands. The earthquake occurred at a depth of about 10 kilometers and was located approximately 130 miles from George Town, Cayman Islands. The US National Tsunami Warning Center issued and later canceled a tsunami advisory for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, while maintaining advisories for other areas, predicting waves up to 3 meters for Cuba and smaller waves for Honduras and the Cayman Islands. Local authorities in affected regions advised residents to move inland and avoid coastal areas, although no significant damage or injuries have been reported. The US Geological Survey noted the quake resulted from strike-slip faulting along the boundary between the North American and Caribbean plates. Despite the initial warnings, the remote location and depth of the earthquake limited potential impacts.