A magnitude 6.5 earthquake has hit the Caribbean island nation of Antigua and Barbuda, triggering widespread disruptions and prompting urgent response efforts from local authorities and regional partners. The seismic event, which struck at an undersea location relatively close to the main island of Antigua, sent tremors that were felt across the Eastern Caribbean, with neighboring islands including St. Kitts and Nevis, Guadeloupe, and Montserrat also reporting light shaking.
Early reports from the Office of Disaster Management in Antigua and Barbuda confirm that the earthquake caused damage to a number of older buildings in the capital St. John’s, including cracked foundations, broken utility lines, and collapsed sections of some historic structures. There have been no immediate confirmed reports of fatalities, though several people have been treated for minor injuries sustained during evacuations and falling debris.
Power grids across the country were temporarily knocked offline as a precautionary measure, with utility crews working through the day to restore service to most residential and commercial areas. Telecommunication networks also experienced intermittent outages in the first few hours after the quake, but most have now been restored. Local emergency management teams have activated their national response protocols, setting up temporary shelters for residents displaced by damaged homes, and conducting preliminary damage assessments across both islands.
The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) has stated that it is standing by to provide additional support, including search and rescue teams, emergency supplies, and structural engineering expertise, if requested by the Antigua and Barbuda government. The US Geological Survey (USGS) noted that the earthquake originated at a shallow depth of around 10 kilometers, which amplified the shaking felt on the surface. While an initial tsunami warning was issued for coastal areas of the Eastern Caribbean shortly after the quake, the warning was later canceled after ocean monitoring stations recorded no abnormal sea level changes.
Tourism stakeholders, who represent the backbone of Antigua and Barbuda’s economy, have moved quickly to assess damage at resorts and tourist attractions on both islands. Early updates indicate that most major tourist infrastructure experienced only minor cosmetic damage, with hotels continuing to operate normally as of the latest reports. Local officials have emphasized that they are prioritizing clearing debris from roads and public spaces to return daily life to normal as quickly as possible, while reminding residents to remain alert for aftershocks that are common following significant seismic events.