Tsunami threat passes for BVI after major quake near Venezuela

A powerful earthquake off the coast of Venezuela prompted a tsunami advisory for the Virgin Islands and neighbouring territories on Wednesday evening, but monitoring authorities cancelled the alert after determining there was no tsunami threat.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre issued the advisory after a preliminary magnitude 7.5 earthquake struck near the coast of Venezuela at 6:05 pm AST. The advisory covered Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands while scientists evaluated whether the earthquake had generated a hazardous tsunami.

By 7:12 pm AST, the warning centre cancelled the advisory, advising government officials, the media and the public that its assessment of all available data showed the earthquake had not generated a destructive tsunami. It also confirmed that no tsunami impacts were expected for the affected territories.

According to the BBC, the 7.5-magnitude earthquake was preceded by a magnitude 7.2 tremor just 39 seconds earlier. The earthquakes struck close to the surface near Venezuela’s Caribbean coast, causing significant damage in and around Caracas and the coastal city of La Guaira.

Venezuelan authorities reported at least 164 deaths and more than 900 injuries, while rescue crews continued searching collapsed buildings. The tremors were also felt in neighbouring countries, including Colombia.