The International Tsunami Information Center has issued a tsunami warning for Belize, Honduras, Mexico, Jamaica, Cuba, and the Cayman Islands following a massive earthquake in the Caribbean Sea.
The US Geological Survey (USGS) reported an earthquake 117 km off Jamaica coast in the strait between it and Cuba on Tuesday. Its epicenter was at 10 km depth. The initial magnitude of 7.3 was upgraded to a 7.7.
Footage has shown people in Jamaica feeling the effects of the tremor on the coast.
Photos have also begun to surface of damage left by the quake. One image from Jamaica gleaner shows sinkholes.
A user has submitted this photo taken by her boss, showing the driveway to the entrance of the Cricket Square parking lot in Georgetown, Grand Cayman following a major 7.7 earthquake that occurred shortly after 2 p.m. pic.twitter.com/4WuW46Vijw
— Jamaica Gleaner (@JamaicaGleaner) January 28, 2020
Citizens in Kingston, which is on the far side of the island, also reported to the the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) website that they felt a quake that lasted less than a minute.
Testimonials have come in through the site from people on the Cayman Islands as well saying they felt the effects.
“Whole house was shaking,” wrote one person about 251 km from the epicenter of the quake.
The Miami Herald has reported quakes were even felt in the Florida city.
Video appears to show people from the city evacuated from several high-rise buildings.
The Cayman Islands Disaster Management Agency has told citizens who are near the shore or in low-level areas to “evacuate” vertically” as a precaution. A spokeswoman for the agency said there have been reports of fatalities or injuries and there are no conclusive reports about potential damages to buildings.
The Cayman Islands Disaster Management Agency has told citizens who are near the shore or in low-level areas to “evacuate vertically” as a precaution.
DETAILS TO FOLLOW
Comments are closed.