7.6 quake hits in Caribbean

A powerful magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck in the Caribbean Sea near Honduras on Tuesday night. Officials said shaking was felt across much of the Central American nation. People were advised to be on alert for possible tsunamis.

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras — A magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck in the Caribbean Sea between the coast of Honduras and the Cayman Islands on Tuesday night, shaking the mainland and causing officials to briefly post advisories warning of the threat of possible tsunami surges around the region.

There were no early reports of serious damage on land. Officials in Honduras said shaking was registered across much of the Central American nation and there were reports of cracks in homes in Colon and Atlantida provinces along the northern coast and Olancho in eastern Honduras.

Tsunami warning centres initially issued advisories, alerting people in Puerto Rico, the Cayman Islands, Cuba, Jamaica and other Caribbean islands as well as on the coasts of Mexico and Central America. The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said later that the advisories had been cancelled.

The U.S. Geological Survey measured the quake at a preliminary magnitude of 7.6. The tremor struck in the sea about 200 kilometres north-northeast of Barra Patuca, Honduras, and 300 km southwest of George Town, Cayman Islands. The tremor occurred about 10 km below the surface.

The northern coast of Honduras closest to the quake’s epicentre is sparsely populated, with much of it covered by nature reserves. The tremor was about 40 km from Honduras’ Swan Islands, which are unpopulated except for small navy post.

President Juan Orlando Hernandez via Twitter said that Honduras had activated its emergency system and asked people to remain calm. In the Cayman Islands, Sgt. Dave McKay with Royal Cayman Islands Police told the Associated Press that hazard management officials had not issued a tsunami alert but authorities were monitoring the situation.