7.7 Magnitude Earthquake - between Jamaica and Cuba

[RickT]

https://earthquaketrack.com/p/jamaica/recent

 

Just heard about a 7.7 magnitude earthquake located 10 km below the surface of the ocean between Cuba and Jamaica (just east of Cayman Islands).  No reports of damage.

[Tarheeler]

We’re on Celebrity Reflection off the coast of Jamaica heading toward Grand Cayman.  So far no update from our Captain as to whether we will visit Georgetown Grand Cayman or change course/itinerary.  The seas here are as calm as a lake at the moment.  

[Pushka]

A Tsunami warning has been issued for affected areas. 

[39august]

What areas, please?

[akowilm]

Tsunami warnings expired at 4:55 pm EST.

[RickT]

42 minutes ago, 39august said:

What areas, please?

Link I provided shows location.

 

No reports of damage in Cuba, Jamaica or Cayman Islands.  Quake was apparently felt as far away as Miami.  A few aftershocks but most reports say any concern has passed.

[hcat]

Our niece was evacuated from a hi rise ofc buiding in Brickell...Miami..  bldg apparently swayed..

 

Hope everyone at sea stays safe!

[rotoal]

My SIL said that their condo on Grand Cayman shook up and down (they are on the first floor), and everything is fine.

[JaneStarr]

I’m also aboard Reflection off the coast of Jamaica heading (theoretically) towards Grand Cayman for arrival at Noon Today (Wednesday).  The seas were so earily calm this afternoon that I sent my kids a short video clip showing how strange it was. The sea was like a lake.

I don’t believe they will announce any cancellation of the port call until a decision has been made as to an alternative port (or an additional sea day).  If we have a sea day, that would make 3 in a row, so my assumption is that Celebrity has been scrambling to find an alternate port.  This has to be tough because there seem to be 6 ships with a port load of almost 21,000 scheduled to be in Grand Cayman Wednesday..

 

From what I’ve read, the government has closed their schools for tomorrow to check for structural integrity.  

We’re going to make our own sea day if Celebrity sticks with the itinerary to tender us into George Town tomorrow.  Hope they will refund our “Captain’s Club Exclusive” shore excursion because there’s no way our group is going into the Crystal caves tomorrow — and that was the highlight of the excursion.

Will post photo, but it’s not as obviously calm as we could see from the Sky lounge at trivia At 4:41pm. I’m also attempting to attach a 3 sec video clip from our deck 11 Starboard balcony, just forward of the aft elevators.

Jane

PS I shot these photos and videos before we heard about the Earthquake...just because the water looks so unusually calm.

Edited January 29, 2020 by JaneStarr
To add video

[JaneStarr]

The seas are still oddly calm this morning. According to the cartoonish map on the navigation channel, for what it’s worth, we are WNW of Jamaica and still on a trajectory for George Town,.  Here are pics/Video clip. The sunrise is spectacular!

Jane

 

[JaneStarr]

For what it’s worth, this is what the compass on my iPhone shows as of 11 mins ago (7:10AM EST)

 

[colliercruiser]

As of 7:30 AM ET, there are currently 2 cruise ships having just arrived at Georgetown and another getting close.  I suspect all ships will arrive as scheduled.

 

[colliercruiser]

Celebrity Reflection is now on the map and still heading to Georgetown.

 

[Jim_Iain]

Newsweek reporting Sink Holes in George Town  for Earthquake. 

 

https://www.newsweek.com/major-earthquake-hits-cuba-jamaica-causing-multiple-sinkholes-open-cayman-islands-1484565

 

In a Twitter post, Dimpinodis said: "#Breaking Multiple sinkholes have formed at the Cayman Islands after the 7.7 magnitude of an earthquake, causing infrastructure damage on pipes and lines." He also showed a video of skyscrapers in Miami, Florida, being evacuated: "#Breaking: Skyscrapers in #Miami in the #US are being evacuated after the 7.7 as a precaution. #Cuba #Jamaica #Tsunami." Twitter account State of Territory News said that sinkholes have appeared at Cricket Square, off Elgin Ave, George Town, in the Cayman Islands.

 

[Tarheeler]

We’re on Celebrity Reflection and have arrived about an hour earlier than expected.  Total of 6 ships, around 20,000 cruise passengers today!