A series of earthquake, some strong, shook portions of Central America and the Caribbean today; fortunately, there is no tsunami threat at this time to the region, the U.S. East Coast, nor to Hawaii. The strongest earthquakes were in the waters off Panama, Nicaragua, and Puerto Rico today.

The off-shore waters of Panama saw the strongest earthquakes today. A 6.7 quake was the strongest of three to strike about 30 miles south of Punta de Burica. A 4.7 struck just 20 minutes later, while a 4.9 struck about 50 minutes later.

While Panama was shaking, a 5.3 earthquake struck 34 miles southwest of Masachapa, Nicaragua.




With the moderate earthquakes striking the Pacific, the Tsunami Warning Center at Ewa Beach, Hawaii issued a Tsunami Information Statement. In it, they said, “based on all available data, a destructive Pacific-wide tsunami is not expected.” They added that there was no tsunami threat specific to Hawaii from these earthquakes.

While the Pacific was shaking, the Caribbean was busy quaking too. Nine earthquakes struck around Puerto Rico today while one struck off the northeast coast of the Dominican Republic. These earthquakes ranged in magnitude from 2.5 – 3.8. Due to their intensity and local characteristics, no earthquake was able to trigger a local or regional tsunami.