A magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck the western Caribbean, prompting a tsunami advisory for the Cayman Islands, while Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands were cleared of the threat. Residents along the coastline of the Cayman Islands were urged to move inland and higher ground due to the potential for tsunamis, which can be deceptively powerful with waves up to 50-60 miles wide. The U.S. Tsunami Warning System also issued a similar threat for Cuba.
Although initially measured at 8.0, the earthquake was later determined to be a 7.6 and located below an island in the Caribbean with minimal population exposure. The quake occurred on a strike-slip fault near the boundary between the North America and Caribbean tectonic plates where large earthquakes are not uncommon. Despite the potential for damage, the remote location of these earthquakes limits significant impact.
Puerto Rico Governor Jenniffer González Colón advised residents to avoid the water on the west and south coasts as a precaution. The U.S. Geological Survey reported 10 magnitude 6 or greater earthquakes in the area within the last century, with a notable magnitude 7.5 event in 2018 causing damage and a small tsunami. The agency emphasized the potential for significant damage is limited by the remote location of these earthquakes.
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