Powerful 7.6 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Near Cayman Islands
February 9, 2025
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Adeola Adeosun is the Newsweek Weekend Night Editor based in Atlanta, Georgia. Her focus is reporting on U.S. national news, politics and trends. Adeola joined Newsweek in 2024 and has previously worked for CNN, Bossip, and The Messenger. You can get in touch with Adeola by emailing a.adeosun@newsweek.com. Languages: English.
Adeola Adeosun
Weekend Night Editor
news article
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
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A massive 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck in the Caribbean on Saturday evening, approximately 130 miles southwest of the Cayman Islands. The National Weather Service (NWS) Tsunami Alerts has confirmed that all forecast water levels are expected to remain below 1 foot, with the earliest arrival times in Puerto Rico within about one hour.
The NWS also confirmed there is no tsunami danger to the mainland U.S. coast.
Why It Matters
This seismic event triggered immediate tsunami advisories for Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, demonstrating the importance of regional emergency alert systems and coordinated response protocols.
What To Know
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the earthquake occurred at 6:23 p.m. EST, positioned roughly halfway between the Cayman Islands and Honduras. Initial forecasts indicated potential tsunami waves could reach Puerto Rico’s western coast by 8:46 p.m. EST (9:46 p.m. local time), with the Virgin Islands expected to experience impacts approximately 30 minutes later.
Under tsunami advisory conditions, residents are instructed to stay out of the water and away from the shore, as even small waves can generate dangerous currents in coastal waters.
While tsunami advisories typically indicate potential waves of 1-3 feet (0.3-1 meter), current forecasts for this event predict waves below 1 foot for the affected areas.
What People Are Saying
The National Weather Service Tsunami Alerts (@NWS_NTWC) is providing continuous updates through their official social media channels and directing the public to tsunami.gov for the most current information.
What Happens Next
The National Tsunami Warning Center will continue providing updates through tsunami.gov as the situation develops.
The focus remains on public safety and maintaining clear communication channels between emergency management authorities and affected communities. Residents in advisory areas should continue following guidance from local authorities and monitoring official information sources for any updates.
The epicenter of the Caribbean earthquake The epicenter of the Caribbean earthquake earthquake.usgs.gov
Update 2/8/25, 8:15 p.m. ET: This story has been updated with additional information.
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