- विज्ञापन -
Washington: A strong earthquake measuring 7.6 struck the Caribbean Sea, prompting tsunami warnings for several countries, according to US monitoring agencies.
The US Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the quake occurred at a shallow depth of 10 km (6.21 miles) on Saturday evening (local time), with its epicenter located approximately 130 miles (209 km) north of Honduras, near the Cayman Islands.
The US Tsunami Warning System initially alerted the Caribbean Sea and areas north of Honduras about potential tsunami threats. While no tsunami risk was identified for the US Atlantic or Gulf Coast, advisories were issued for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center indicated that “hazardous tsunami waves” could impact coastal regions within 620 miles of the epicenter, affecting the Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Cuba, Mexico, Honduras, Nicaragua, the Bahamas, Costa Rica, Belize, Haiti, Panama, and Guatemala.
Subsequently, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecasted tsunami waves of 1 to 3 meters above tide level along parts of Cuba’s coastline, with smaller waves of 0.3 to 1 meter expected for Honduras and the Cayman Islands.
After initially warning over a dozen countries, US agencies later rescinded most tsunami alerts but cautioned that “small sea level changes may occur.”
In response, several Caribbean nations, including Honduras, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, and the Cayman Islands, issued evacuation orders for residents in coastal regions. The Cayman Islands government advised those living near the coast to “move inland” as a precaution.
Authorities in the affected areas are currently evaluating the situation, with no immediate reports of casualties or significant damage.
