Caribbean: A magnitude-5.2 offshore earthquake occurs in the eastern Caribbean at around 05:49 AST April 16

Event

A magnitude-5.2 earthquake occurred in the eastern Caribbean at 05:49 AST April 16. The epicenter was about 80 km (50 miles) north-northeast of Saint John’s, Antigua and Barbuda. The tremor occurred at a depth of about 20 km (12 miles), and shaking was probably felt throughout the eastern Caribbean. There have been no initial reports of damage or casualties as a result of the earthquake. 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, particularly near the earthquake's epicenter.

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.