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7.6 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Caribbean, Tsunami Warnings Posted

JT Genter
JT Genter
JT is a location-independent digital nomad traveling 250,000+ miles each year with his wife Katie.

January 10, 2018 • 2 min read

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Update 11:43pm EST: The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center has lifted the tsunami warning for most of the Caribbean — including Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands. However, Honduras and Belize are still threatened by 0.3 to 1 meter tsunami waves. The PTWC forecasts the following estimated time of arrival for these surges:

    LOCATION         REGION             COORDINATES    ETA(UTC)
    ------------------------------------------------------------
    PUERTO CORTES    HONDURAS          15.9N  88.0W   0342 01/10
    BELIZE CITY      BELIZE            17.5N  88.2W   0452 01/10

Still recovering from the double-blow of Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria, Puerto Rico — with 40% of its residents still without power — and the US Virgin Islands are bracing for yet another natural disaster. A powerful 7.6 magnitude earthquake (initially reported to be 7.8 magnitude) struck off of Honduras, leading authorities to issue tsunami warnings for Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands:

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The US State Department also notes tsunami advisories are in effect for the Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Mexico, Honduras, Cuba, Belize, San Andres and Providencia, Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragua and Guatemala.

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Surges between 0.3 and 1 meter (1-3 feet) are possible in the region from this earthquake. The 7.6 magnitude earthquake is one of the most powerful earthquakes on record for the Caribbean:

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The epicenter is calculated to be 27 miles off of Great Swan Island in Honduras:

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As of 11:22pm local time (10:22pm EST), the National Weather Service in San Juan recommended that everyone evacuate off beaches and low-lying areas:

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This is a breaking story. Stay tuned to The Points Guy for updates.

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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
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Enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
Book two nights or more with The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App™ and receive a $100* credit towards eligible charges at over 1,400 upscale hotels worldwide. *Eligible charges vary by property.
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Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
No Foreign Transaction Fees.
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Terms Apply.

    LOCATION         REGION             COORDINATES    ETA(UTC)
    ------------------------------------------------------------
    PUERTO CORTES    HONDURAS          15.9N  88.0W   0342 01/10
    BELIZE CITY      BELIZE            17.5N  88.2W   0452 01/10

This content is hosted by X.

View this post on X

This content is hosted by X.

View this post on X

Surges between 0.3 and 1 meter (1-3 feet) are possible in the region from this earthquake. The 7.6 magnitude earthquake is one of the most powerful earthquakes on record for the Caribbean:

This content is hosted by X.

View this post on X

The epicenter is calculated to be 27 miles off of Great Swan Island in Honduras:

This content is hosted by X.

View this post on X

As of 11:22pm local time (10:22pm EST), the National Weather Service in San Juan recommended that everyone evacuate off beaches and low-lying areas:

This content is hosted by X.

View this post on X

This is a breaking story. Stay tuned to The Points Guy for updates.

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