7.6 Magnitude Earthquake in the Caribbean Triggers Tsunami Warnings and Evacuations

A powerful earthquake with a magnitude of 7.6 struck the Caribbean Sea southwest of the Cayman Islands on Saturday, prompting tsunami warnings and advisories for several islands and countries.

The quake occurred at 6:23 p.m. local time, with a depth of 10 kilometers, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Its epicenter was located 130 miles south-southwest of George Town in the Cayman Islands.

The U.S. National Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami advisory for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, which was later canceled. However, the sounding of alarms in Puerto Rico's northwest region caused people to evacuate coastal areas, leading to heavy traffic.

Authorities in the Dominican Republic, Cuba, and the Bahamas also issued tsunami alerts or advisories, urging residents to move to higher ground or stay away from beaches.

The Honduran government reported no immediate damage but advised its citizens to avoid beaches.

Later, the U.S. government's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration warned of possible tsunami waves reaching 1 to 3 meters above the tide level along some coasts of Cuba.

The earthquake and subsequent tsunami warnings caused widespread concern and disruption in the affected regions.