Caribbean hit by magnitude-7.6 earthquake, tsunami advisory in place
Updated
A magnitude-7.6 earthquake has struck north of Honduras in the Caribbean, with tsunami waves possible.
The United States Geological Survey said the quake, initially reported as a magnitude-7.8, was centred 202 kilometres northeast of Barra Patuca in Honduras and 307 south-west of George Town in the Cayman Islands.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre said a tsunami advisory was in effect for Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands and warned of possible waves up to 1 metre above tide level.
The earthquake was very shallow, at only 10 kilometres deep, which would have amplified its effect.
The earthquake rattled windows in the Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa, but no damage was immediately reported.
It was also lightly felt in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, north of Honduras, according to Mexico's civil protection director.
More to come.
Reuters/ABC
Topics: earthquake, disasters-and-accidents, puerto-rico, virgin-islands-us
First posted