A 6.4-magnitude seismic event rattled the waters west of Cuba on Monday, triggering an immediate assessment from regional warning authorities that have ruled out a dangerous tsunami risk for nearby island nations including Antigua and Barbuda.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (PTWC), which coordinates hazard monitoring for the Caribbean region, released detailed data confirming the quake struck at 1800 UTC (2 p.m. Eastern Time) at a depth of 33 kilometers (20 miles) beneath the ocean surface. Its epicenter was pinpointed to geographic coordinates of 22.8 degrees north latitude and 85.3 degrees west longitude, placing it offshore of Cuba’s western coast.
In an official tsunami advisory published within minutes of the tremor, PTWC noted that a comprehensive review of all available geological and seismic data led experts to conclude the earthquake does not carry a risk of a large, destructive tsunami. While the statement acknowledged an extremely remote chance of minor, localized sea level fluctuations along coastlines immediately adjacent to the epicenter, this minor potential does not require emergency response or evacuation measures.
PTWC added that no additional public updates will be issued moving forward unless new geological data emerges or hazard conditions shift unexpectedly. This advisory was released as part of PTWC’s support for the UNESCO Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (UNESCO/IOC) Tsunami and Other Coastal Hazards Warning System for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions, a regional network designed to deliver fast, accurate hazard assessments to protect coastal communities across the Caribbean basin.