A powerful 7.6-magnitude earthquake has shaken the Caribbean Sea, prompting the issuance of tsunami warnings across multiple countries, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The earthquake's epicenter was located approximately 20 miles (32.1 km) north of Honduras and around 130 miles (209.2 km) south-west of the Cayman Islands.
In response to the seismic event, tsunami alerts have been activated for several regions, including the coastlines of Colombia, the Cayman Islands, Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Cuba. The National Weather Service has cautioned residents of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands about potential threats, highlighting the risk of "strong currents and waves dangerous to those in or very near water."
The USGS noted that large earthquakes are not uncommon in this particular area along the plate boundary. In fact, a similar 7.5-magnitude earthquake struck the vicinity in 2018, resulting in minor damage and a small tsunami. Fortunately, the remote positioning of these earthquakes generally mitigates the risk of extensive damage from shaking.
Residents and authorities in the affected regions are urged to remain vigilant as they monitor the situation following the earthquake, which has raised significant concerns throughout the Caribbean.
