Caribbean Islands Safe From Tsunami Threat Following 6.5 Magnitude Earthquake in Puerto Rico, Tsunami Warning Center Says

  • Ernice Gilbert
  • January 07, 2020
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The National Weather Service's Tsunami Warning Center advised this morning that there was no threat of a tsunami to Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands and other Caribbean islands as a result of a 6.5 magnitude earthquake that affected Puerto Rico at about 4:24 a.m. today.

"Based on all available data there is no tsunami threat to Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin islands or the British Virgin Islands from this earthquake," said the Tsunami Warning Center. 

Virgin Islanders have shared their experience with the earthquake on social media, with some stating that they felt their homes shake. The Tsunami Center also confirmed that people have experienced shaking from the earthquake.

The earthquake also affected Dominica, the Bahamas, Saint Martin, Sint Maarten, Haiti, Guadeloupe, Saint Kitts, Nevis, Turks and Caicos Islands, the Caribbean Netherlands, Saint Barthelemy, Antigua and Barbuda, Montserrat and Anguilla.

The Tsunami Center cautioned residents in affected areas to "be observant and exercise normal caution if you are near or in the ocean in case of minor sea level changes."

While a tsunami was not expected as a result of the earthquake, the center said minor sea level fluctuations may occur in some coastal areas over the next few hours.

Today's earthquake is the second to affect Puerto Rico in two days. Just Monday, a 5.8-magnitude earthquake rocked the coastal municipality of Guayanilla about 6:35 a.m. That earthquake destroyed Punta Ventana, one of Puerto Rico most popular tourist destinations.

 

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