A magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck in the western Caribbean on Saturday night, prompting a tsunami advisory for the Cayman Islands. However, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands were cleared of the threat. The earthquake occurred at 6:23 p.m. ET at a depth of about 6 miles below ground, about 130 miles south-southwest of George Town, Cayman Islands. The Cayman Islands government issued an “all clear” for its islands – Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman – stating that no tsunami was observed. The earthquake was initially measured at 8.0 by the USGS but was later reassessed to be 7.6. Despite the earthquake’s location below an island surrounded by the Caribbean, the USGS reported that ‘little or no population’ was exposed to the shaking. The temblor occurred near a strike-slip fault at the boundary between the North America and Caribbean tectonic plates, with the USGS noting that large earthquakes in this area are not unexpected. The agency also mentioned that 10 magnitude 6 or greater earthquakes have occurred in the region in the last century. A previously notable earthquake in the region happened on Jan. 10, 2018, when a magnitude 7.5 quake caused some damage and a small tsunami. Overall, the remote location of these earthquakes limits the potential for significant damage due to shaking. Governor Jenniffer González Colón of Puerto Rico advised residents to stay out of the water as a precautionary measure, despite no major impact event being anticipated.
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