Powerful 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck between Honduras and the Cayman Islands in the Caribbean Sea, prompting tsunami alert, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) reports.

Authorities raised the alert for the Cayman Islands while declaring Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands out of danger.

“The Tsunami Advisory for Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands is now canceled. While alerts have ended, strong and unusual currents may continue. Be careful near the water and use caution,” NWS stated on X.

USGS said in a statement that the earthquake hit at 6:23 p.m. local time. The epicenter was about 20 miles north of Honduras and 130 miles southwest of the Cayman Islands.

The government of the Cayman Islands Hazard Management Agency said in a statement, “The Cayman Islands is under a Tsunami threat. Residents living near the coastline are encouraged to move inland.”

Further, the alert advised residents to move away from harbors, beys, and marinas, and get out of the water.

The earthquake was the largest to hit the region since the devastating 7.2 magnitude quake that struck Haiti in 2021.

NWS reported at 8.23 p.m. that “a Tsunami Threat continues for Cuba, where a tsunami may reach 1 to 3 meters above the tide, and Honduras and the Cayman Islands, where a tsunami may reach up to 0.3 to 1 meter above the tide.” However, the United States has not received any threats or alerts.

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