Tsunami warning following 7.6 magnitude earthquake near Cayman Islands

A tsunami threat warning has been issued after a powerful 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck 200km south-southwest of the Cayman Islands late on Saturday night (UTC) (Sunday morning NZT).

The quake occurred at 23.23 UTC at a depth of 33km.

The US Tsunami Warning System said waves as high as nearly 3m were possible in some coastal areas of Cuba, while waves of up to 1m could hit Honduras and the Cayman Islands.

The Cayman Islands government warned in a message on its website: “Residents living near the coastline are encouraged to move inland.”

After initially warning of tsunami threats to more than a dozen countries, the US government monitor later cancelled all but three of its alerts, but said “small sea level changes may occur”.

The temblor struck at a shallow depth, the US Geological Survey said.

Notable quake, preliminary info: M 8.0 - 202 km SW of George Town, Cayman Islands https://t.co/01xIWIdipO

— USGS Earthquakes (@USGS_Quakes) February 8, 2025

Authorities in the affected regions have been urged to take immediate action, warning coastal populations of the potential danger.

The PTWC said that tsunami waves can vary in intensity, based on coastal geography, tides and local bathymetry and that the first wave may not necessarily be the largest.

🟣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.

Refer to https://t.co/npoUHxX900 for the latest information.

— NWS Tsunami Alerts (@NWS_NTWC) February 9, 2025

It’s good that tsunami sirens in puerto rico are in place and functioning properly. I am glad people knew what to do when they heard them go off. Even if it wasn’t necessary to evacuate tonight, one day it will be, though I am praying that day never comes. pic.twitter.com/fBkQbQDfzw

— devilette (@deviIette) February 9, 2025

Residents in at-risk areas have been advised to remain vigilant and follow instructions from national and local authorities.

Estimated arrival times for the initial tsunami waves vary, with the first possibly reaching Cayman Brac at 23.52 UTC, followed by Grand Cayman at 23.58 UTC and Montego Bay, Jamaica, at 00.03 UTC on February 9.

The powerful earthquake was felt off the coast of Honduras. Image / United States Geological Survey

The PTWC has advised residents to stay away from beaches and low-lying coastal areas until the threat has passed.

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