USVI to Simulate Magnitude 8.6 Earthquake in CARIBE WAVE 2025 Tsunami Exercise

The V.I. Territorial Emergency Management Agency has announced the territory’s participation in CARIBE WAVE 2025, an international tsunami preparedness exercise scheduled for Thursday, March 20, 2025. This annual drill, coordinated by the UNESCO/IOC Intergovernmental Coordination Group for the Tsunami and Other Coastal Hazards Warning System for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions (ICG/CARIBE-EWS), aims to evaluate the effectiveness of tsunami warning systems across the Caribbean. This year’s exercise will simulate a magnitude 8.6 earthquake off the coast of Portugal, testing the communication and coordination protocols that would be activated in the event of an actual tsunami threat to the region. VITEMA Director Daryl Jaschen notedd the importance of this exercise in ensuring the readiness of local emergency response teams and raising public awareness about tsunami risks. "Tsunami preparedness is critical for our island communities," said Jaschen. "The USVI’s participation in CARI...