7.7-magnitude Caribbean Earthquake Triggers Tsunami Warning

Crisis

A massive 7.7-magnitude earthquake in the Caribbean triggered a tsunami warning in several countries including Jamaica, Cuba and the Cayman Islands on Tuesday.

The quake struck at 2.10pm EST in the strait between Jamaica and Cuba. Its epicenter was about 72 miles northwest of Lucea, Jamaica, and 87 miles southwest of Niquero, Cuba, at a depth of 6.2 miles, according to the US Geological Survey.  Schools and buildings in Jamaica and Cuba were evacuated after people reported feeling the ground shake for about a minute. The quake was felt as far away as Miami, where several downtown skyscrapers were evacuated. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center issued an alert cautioning that waves up to 3.5-feet above the normal tide level were possible along the coasts of Belize, Cuba, Honduras, Mexico, Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. The alert was updated just before 3.45pm EST to say ‘the tsunami threat has now largely passed’, and the National Weather Service confirmed soon after that no warnings, watches or advisories were in effect. No deaths or injuries have been reported and the extent of the damage is still emerging as new images show massive sinkholes opened up on roads in the Cayman Islands and residents say what appears to be sewage is spilling out of broken pipes. There is still a threat of aftershocks after one significant one – rated 6.5 magnitude – was reported around 5pm.

Source:mailonline