‘Move inland’: Tsunami warning issued after powerful earthquake near Cayman Islands

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.

Countries that could be affected include the Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Cuba, Mexico, Honduras, the Bahamas, Belize, Haiti, Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragua and Guatemala.

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.

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 PTWC warned that a tsunami consists of multiple waves, with intervals ranging from five minutes to an hour, and that the hazard could persist for many hours after the initial impact.

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

Further information about the earthquake can be found on the US Geological Survey website at earthquake.usgs.gov, while tsunami updates are available at www.tsunami.gov.

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