Unusually powerful M6.8 Earthquake hit in the Caribbean Sea near Manzanillo (Cuba) on Sunday Morning.

Written by Earthquakelist.org on November 10th, 2024. Last updated November 13th, 2024.

In the Caribbean Sea 60 kilometer from Manzanillo, Cuba, an unusually powerful M6.8 earthquake occurred around noon of Sunday November 10th, 2024. The USGS has indicated there is a potential risk at tsunami's following this earthquake. Jamaica is also near its epicenter.

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Earthquake Summary

This earthquake hit under water in the Caribbean Sea, right off the coast of Cuba (5 mi offshore), 60 kilometer south of Manzanillo in Granma. The center of this earthquake had a very shallow depth of 14 km. Shallow earthquakes usually have a larger impact than earthquakes deep in the earth.

Date and Time:	Nov 10, 2024 11:49 (Havana Time) - Nov 10, 2024 16:49 Universal Time.
Location:	60 km south of Manzanillo, Granma, Cuba. Coordinates 19°48'42"N 77°2'21"W.
Map:	Map of area around epicenter. Click to open in Google Maps.
Magnitude:	MAG 6.8 Detected by 37 stations. Maximum Error Range ±0.032 .
Depth:	14 km (9 mi) A very shallow depth.
Max. Intensity:	VIII Severe On the Modified Mercalli Scale.
Tsunami Risk:	Potential tsunami risk The USGS has indicated there is a potential risk at tsunami's following this earthquake. Always stay cautious - More info here.

Potential tsunami risk

There is a potential tsunami risk in the aftermath of this earthquake, immediately evacuate to higher grounds away from coastal areas and monitor advice from local authorities. The US Geographic Survey organization has indicated a potential risk for tsunami's following this earthquake.

Tsunami Risk Factors

Significant impact predicted

Based on scientific estimates by the US Geographic Survey (USGS), the risk of high fatalities for this earthquake is classified at level YELLOW (significant). They expect an 35% likelyhood of between 1 and 10 fatalities, and a 90% chance that the number of fatalities falls no higher than 100.

The USGS classifies the economic impact of this earthquake at level YELLOW (significant). They expect an 48% likelyhood of between 10 and 100 million US Dollars in economic damage and impact, and a 95% chance that the economic impact of this earthquake falls between 1 and 1,000 million USD.

Roughly 8 million people exposed to shaking

This earthquake may have been felt by around 8 million people. That is the expected population size of the area exposed to a level of shaking of II or higher on the Modified Mercalli scale according to the USGS.

An estimated 31,630 people were exposed to level VII. At this level, very strong shaking and likely moderate damage can be expected. The majority of people (roughly 6 million) live in an area exposed to level IV, where light shaking and likely no damage is expected.

People in 5 countries have been exposed to shaking. In Cuba , around 5.4 million people, with impact levels up to VII (very strong shaking, likely moderate damage). In Jamaica , around 2.8 million people. A smaller number of people were exposed in the following countries: Haiti and Cayman Islands.

Nearby towns and cities

4 countries can be found within 300km of the epicenter of this earthquake: Cuba and Jamaica . Futher away, this earthquake may also have been felt in Haiti and Cayman Islands.

Bartolomé Masó in Granma, Cuba is the nearest significant place from the epicenter. The earthquake occurred 41 kilometer (25 mi) south-southwest of Bartolomé Masó. The intensity of shaking and damage in Bartolomé Masó is estimated to be around level VI on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale (strong shaking, probably light damage).

Multiple large cities are in proximity of today's earthquake. Kingston is located 203 km to the south and experienced an intensity of IV (light shaking, likely no damage). Santiago de Cuba is located 129 km to the east and experienced an intensity of V (moderate shaking, very light damage). New Kingston is located 202 km to the south and experienced an intensity of IV (light shaking, likely no damage).

A complete list of nearby places is included below. Estimated intensity data (MMI) sourced from a shake-map published by the US Geographic Survey is shown where available (cities without data probably experienced little impact).

Overview of nearby places

Earthquake Intensity Map

The graph below overlays a map of the region around the epicenter with earthquake intensity data provided by the US Geographic Survey. The highest intensity level detected for this earthquake is VII.

I Not felt

II Weak

III Weak

IV Light

V Moderate

VI Strong

VII Very Strong

VIII Severe

IX Violent

X Extreme

Shaking reported by 690 people in 8 countries

People that feel an earthquake may report their experience to the US Geographic Survey. Currently, 690 people have reported shaking in 49 places in 8 countries (Dominican Republic, Cayman Islands, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Jamaica, Mexico, Netherlands Antilles, Cuba).We keep updating this article as more ground reports become available. You may report that you felt this earthquake here.

Places with most reports:

• Jiguaní, Granma, Cuba: 171 people.
• Bayamo, Granma, Cuba: 132 people.
• Río Cauto, Granma, Cuba: 61 people.
• Las Tunas, Las Tunas, Cuba: 58 people.
• Guisa, Granma, Cuba: 46 people.
• Yara, Granma, Cuba: 43 people.
• Cacocum, Holguín, Cuba: 34 people.
• Manzanillo, Granma, Cuba: 29 people.
• Montego Bay, Saint James, Jamaica: 18 people.
• Ocho Rios, Saint Ann, Jamaica: 8 people.

3 Aftershocks detected

This main shock was followed by 3 smaller aftershocks. A 4.6 magnitude earthquake hit 2 hrs later 11 km (7 mi) west-southwest of this earthquake.

This main shock was prefaced by 1 smaller foreshock. A 5.9 magnitude earthquake hit 60 mins earlier nearby.

Overview of foreshocks and aftershocks

More earthquakes coming?

Aftershocks are usually at least 1 order of magnitude less strong than main shocks. The more time passes, the smaller the chance and likely strength of any potential aftershocks.

The chance that a significant earthquake like this one is followed by an even larger earthquake is not so large. On average, scientists estimate a 94% chance that a major earthquake will not be followed by an even larger one. It is still adviced to be aware of this risk

This is the strongest earthquake in 5 years

Earthquakes of this strength are not so common in the region, but it's not the first time. This is the strongest earthquake to hit since January 28th, 2020, when a 7.7 magnitude earthquake hit 185 km (115 mi) further west-southwest. That was also the heaviest earthquake to hit the region in the past 10 years.

In total, 1 earthquake with a magnitude of 6.8 or higher have been registered within 300km (186 mi) of this epicenter in the past 10 years. This comes down to an average of once every 10 years.

Sources

Last updated 13/11/24 16:18 (). This article is automatically generated based on available data. We keep checking multiple sources for additional information. This article gets updated as new details on this earthquake become available.

1. US Geographic Society (USGS): Earthquake us7000nr0v
2. European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC): Earthquake 20241110_0000159
3. Geonames.org: World Cities Database
4. Google Maps: Static API
5. Earthquakelist.org: Historic Earthquakes Database

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