A tsunami warning went into effect for much of the Caribbean after a 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck in the middle of the Caribbean Sea on Saturday evening.
The earthquake struck midway between Georgetown in the Cayman Islands and Honduras, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The tremors hit at a depth of roughly six miles.
The quake caused a threat warning for potential tsunamis across a slate of countries in and around the Caribbean Sea. The warnings did not reach the U.S. mainland, though advisories were issued for Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, according to AccuWeather.
No damage was reported from the earthquake, the epicenter of which was about 100 miles southwest of George Town, according to Fox Weather. Light shaking may have been felt in areas across the region, however. Authorities warned that waves generated by the quake may pose a threat to boats and beachgoers.
Pool water sloshing around on Grand Cayman Island during the 7.6 earthquake earlier. Video via Myrtle Beach resident Scott Thompson. pic.twitter.com/LcaPfIy5gs
— Ed Piotrowski (@EdPiotrowski) February 9, 2025
While earthquakes are common, tsunamis from earthquakes are rare in the Caribbean, with only ten having been recorded in the region during the past five centuries, according to the University of the West Indies.
Earthquakes have caused at times severe damage, such as the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that rocked Haiti in 2021. In 2010, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake hit Haiti and killed an estimated 220,000 people.
