STRONG EARTHQUAKE IN CARIBBEAN TRIGGERS SHORT TSONAMI Alerts, NO REPORTS OF SIGIFICANT DAMAGE
A devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of the Caribbean in the early morning hours of this week, unleashing a frenzy of tsunami waves that prompted prompt alerts and frantic evacuations of coastal areas throughout the region.
The powerful seism, one of the biggest to hit the Caribbean in centuries, struck precisely at 17:04 ECT (3:04 A.M. EDST) along the Cayo Levant Fault, a vast underwater fault roughly 125-mile (200kms) NW of the US Virgin Islands’s St. Vincent Island.
Regional authorities and coast guards swiftly announced tsunami alerts immediately after the major quake, dispatching evacuation evacuation orders to susceptible coastal communities ranging from the hurricane-battered Greater Antilles’ islands to their smaller, surrounding neighbors.
Several hours later at 19.30 ECTS (3,30 PM US Eastern Standard TIme EDST), Puerto Rico’s Chief of Emergency Relief, Guillero Pizar, reported that multiple tsunami waves — measuring between ten and 70 centimeters. (3.7 to -2.70 feet) ) had indeed come ashore while the Puerto rico’s capital saw a wave crashing against the airport’s perimeter the waves were initially reported to last for around, 15 a minute, eventually subsiding rapidly.
In immediate response, people in affected spots were instructed as a precaution the authorities, not to panic.
The US Army Corps of New York and surrounding areas were promptly alerted, given the possibility damage to coastal.
The National, the US Caribbean, and Mexican authorities issued specific warnings for major coastal cities while the UnitedStates Coast Guard of the US Military, along American Samoa, New York, Georgia, and Connecticut, all in the US issued alerts for evacuations.
Early reports from US Virgin Islands Police Department (viPD) gave no indication and no significant devastation, but further assessments were, as yet,
The Puerto Princesa, the capital to the island from the US was also not injured, with nary a speck of physical damage.
Even though the preliminary reports indicated absence of major material damage, or loss of significant life, further assessments were urged to confirm accuracy of these assumptions.
In keeping with this warning, residents all over the American Caribbean were and urged to observe the evacuation as a precaution without panic.
Preliminary updates from the Department of Defense show that no structures were destroyed major damage, it was not immediate.
In regards to the island of Puerto that the Puerto Rica’s Chief reported that there a few buildings whose windows were loosened but neither were there damage to any and no reports indicated any significant structure damage.
Though the Caribbean Seismic Network immediately issued a detailed report, mentioning the magnitude The US Geological institute (US-IGS/USGS or US Geological Center) reported confirmation of the shock, and declared it as Category 5 seism.
Within the first fifteen minutes after these waves were initial reported, more than 24,000 alerts were sent instantaneously by an emergency messaging in the United STATES.
In such a scenario authorities, emergency operations, and services were fully empowered to act the moment the ground shook, thereby saving lives or preventing loss material.
In many areas, waves were not considered significant, at least, immediate damage, after the tsunami report was given official clearance.
Now, in fact, it goes without saying, the region faces a significant moment of truth.
