Caribbean Sea: Magnitude-5.0 offshore earthquake occurs near the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean Sea at around 15:48 Sept. 28

Event

A magnitude-5.0 offshore earthquake occurred in the Caribbean Sea near the Leeward Islands at around 15:48 Sept. 28. The epicenter was about 50 km (31 miles) east-northeast of Codrington, Antigua and Barbuda. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 28 km (17 miles), and light shaking was probably felt in parts of Antigua and Barbuda, Sint Maarten, Guadeloupe, Dominica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Anguilla, and Montserrat. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties as a result of the earthquake; significant damage is unlikely. It could take several hours until authorities can conduct comprehensive damage assessments, especially in remote areas. Aftershocks are likely over the coming days. The event has not prompted any tsunami advisories.

Officials may temporarily shut down transportation infrastructure in the tremor zone to check for damage. Minor disruptions could occur during shutdowns, but service will likely resume quickly if no damage is found. Utility outages are possible in areas where shaking occurred.

Advice

Out of an abundance of caution, consider vacating multistory buildings where shaking occurred until authorities confirm their structural integrity. Monitor and plan for aftershocks.