Residents across parts of the Eastern Caribbean were jolted Saturday morning after a powerful magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck near Antigua and Barbuda, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
The earthquake occurred around 10:50 a.m. local time and was centered approximately 70 kilometers east-southeast of Codrington, Barbuda. Reports indicate the quake struck at a depth of roughly 30 kilometers beneath the surface.
The tremor was felt across several islands in the northeastern Caribbean, including Saint Kitts and Nevis, Guadeloupe, Montserrat, Anguilla, Saint Martin, the British Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and Dominica.
Despite the strength of the quake, authorities reported no immediate threat of a tsunami, easing concerns for coastal communities throughout the region. Initial reports also did not indicate any major structural damage or injuries, though assessments were still ongoing up to Saturday afternoon.
Earthquakes are relatively common within the Caribbean due to the region’s complex tectonic activity. The Eastern Caribbean sits near the boundary where the Atlantic Plate interacts with the Caribbean Plate, making the Lesser Antilles one of the more seismically active zones in the hemisphere.
The latest quake serves as another reminder of the Caribbean’s vulnerability to seismic events, particularly in island states where infrastructure resilience and emergency preparedness remain critical.
Regional disaster management agencies are continuing to monitor the situation, while residents in affected territories are being encouraged to remain alert for possible aftershocks.