A strong earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale has hit the Caribbean Sea, with the United States Geological Survey (USGS) confirming that it occurred approximately 20 miles (32.1 km) north of Honduras and 130 miles (209.2 km) southwest of the Cayman Islands. In the wake of this seismic event, tsunami warnings have been issued for a number of countries, including the coast of Colombia, the Cayman Islands, Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Cuba.
Authorities have also alerted residents of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands about possible dangers such as strong ocean currents and large waves that pose risks to those in close proximity to the water. According to USGS experts, such significant earthquakes along this particular plate boundary are not unprecedented, referencing a previous 7.5-magnitude quake in 2018 that led to minor damage and a small tsunami. Fortunately, the relatively remote location of this latest quake may mitigate the extent of potential damage caused by shaking.
