The night of February 8, a powerful 7.6 magnitude earthquake shook the Caribbean Sea, north of Honduras. This has been the strongest earthquake in the last four years in the region.
Tsunami warnings in several countries
Following the earthquake, tsunami warnings were issued in several nearby countries, including Honduras, Cuba, Puerto Rico, the Cayman Islands, and the Virgin Islands. The United States Geological Survey (USGS) confirmed that the epicenter of the quake was at a depth of 10 km. Meanwhile, the German Research Centre for Geosciences recorded a magnitude of 7.5.
Initially, the U.S. Tsunami Warning System predicted waves up to 3 meters for Cuba and between 0.3 and 1 meter for Honduras and the Cayman Islands. However, minutes later, it was confirmed that the danger had passed, and the warnings were canceled.
The tectonic plate causing these earthquakes
This powerful earthquake occurred at the boundaries of the Caribbean Plate, one of the most active in the world. This plate moves towards the southeast and interacts with other major plates: the North American, South American, Nazca, and Cocos plates.
Activity in this plate has caused devastating earthquakes in the past, such as the 7.2 magnitude earthquake in Haiti in 2021 and the 7.3 magnitude earthquake in 2010, which caused significant damage to the country.
A region of high seismic activity
The Caribbean Plate plays a key role in the geological formation of northern South America, from Colombia to the Lesser Antilles. Its constant movement has led to the formation of several Caribbean islands.
Additionally, its interaction with the South American Plate has caused deformations in the region, giving rise to the Northern Andes block. In this area, earthquakes, tsunamis, and even volcanic eruptions are common phenomena due to intense tectonic activity.
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