Massive 7.6-magnitude earthquake shakes Caribbean, tsunami warning issued

Massive 7.6-magnitude earthquake shakes Caribbean, tsunami warning issued

A magnitude 7.6 earthquake was reported in the middle of the Caribbean Sea Saturday night triggering a wave of tsunami warnings around the region that have since been lifted.

The earthquake was reported just before 6:30 p.m local time about 129 miles south-southwest of George Town in the Cayman Islands at a depth of about 6 miles, according to the US Geological Survey.

Information summary of M 7.6 earthquake 209 km SSW of George Town, Cayman Islands indicating date, time, and coordinates.
A violent quake struck the Caribbean on Saturday evening.USGS

The event placed several areas along the Mexican coastline under threat of tsunami — with those warnings and advisories lifted more than two hours later, according to USGS.

The event sparked a tsunami warning, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The earthquake was a result of a strike slip faulting in the shallow crust near the boundary between the North American and Caribbean plates, according to USGS.