By Amanda Castro and Hannah Parry

0

Share

Newsweek is a Trust Project member

See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.

A magnitude 6.8 earthquake struck off the coast of Guadeloupe early Monday, according to government officials and seismic data from Colombia’s Geological Survey.

What to Know:

• The quake occurred at 7:38 a.m. local time (12:38 UTC) on October 27.
• Epicenter was located at 16.54°N, -59.49°W, off Guadeloupe’s eastern coast.
• Depth was classified as “superficial,” under 30 kilometers.
• Quakes in the 6.1–6.9 range can be destructive within 100 kilometers, especially in vulnerable areas.
• No tsunami warning issued as of time of writing and no immediate reports of damage.

...

This live blog is now closed.

Oct 27, 2025 at 03:35 PM EDT

This live blog is closed

Coverage on this live blog has now ended.

Oct 27, 2025 at 02:58 PM EDT

Earthquake safety: How to prepare, protect, and recover

The best time to prepare for an earthquake is before it strikes. Families and workplaces should practice safety drills and create emergency plans that include out-of-state contacts, meeting points, and supply kits with essentials such as water, food, flashlights, and medical supplies.

Securing heavy household items and addressing structural vulnerabilities can reduce damage. Homeowners should consider earthquake insurance, as standard policies typically exclude losses from earthquakes.

During an earthquake, stay indoors if safe, avoid doorways, and follow the “Drop, Cover, and Hold On” method. Those using mobility aids should lock the wheels and remain seated, shielding their heads and necks.

After the shaking stops, expect aftershocks and avoid damaged buildings. If trapped, signal for help with a whistle or by tapping. In tsunami-prone areas, move to higher ground immediately. Use text messages to communicate and monitor emergency updates via radio or social media.

Cleanup should be done cautiously with protective gear. Vulnerable individuals, including children and those with respiratory conditions, should avoid areas affected by mold. Preparedness and informed action can save lives and ease recovery.

Oct 27, 2025 at 02:32 PM EDT

Twin earthquakes rattle Eastern Caribbean, no damage reported

A powerful 6.5 magnitude earthquake struck in the Atlantic Ocean early Monday, about 100 miles east of Guadeloupe, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The quake, which occurred at a depth of six miles, was felt across the eastern Caribbean, including Antigua and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Shortly after the initial tremor, a second earthquake measuring 6.0 on the Richter scale hit the same region at a similar depth. Despite the strength of both quakes, officials reported no immediate damage and confirmed that no tsunami warning was issued.

Oct 27, 2025 at 02:08 PM EDT

Shake map shows potential damage, intensity of Caribbean earthquake

Oct 27, 2025 at 01:05 PM EDT

The most powerful earthquakes ever recorded

Earthquakes have reshaped coastlines, triggered deadly tsunamis, and altered history. Here's a look at some of the most significant quakes ever documented by scientists:

• 1960 – Valdivia, Chile (Magnitude 9.5): The strongest earthquake ever recorded, it killed over 1,600 people and displaced millions.
• 1964 – Prince William Sound, Alaska (Magnitude 9.2): Caused massive landslides and a tsunami that reached Hawaii.
• 2004 – Sumatra-Andaman Islands (Magnitude 9.1): Triggered a devastating tsunami that killed more than 280,000 people.
• 2011 – Tōhoku, Japan (Magnitude 9.1): Led to the Fukushima nuclear disaster and widespread destruction.
• 1952 – Kamchatka, Russia (Magnitude 9.0): Generated Pacific-wide tsunami waves, including 30-foot surges in Hawaii.
• 2010 – Maule, Chile (Magnitude 8.8): Shook central Chile and prompted tsunami alerts across the Pacific.
• 1906 – Esmeraldas, Ecuador (Magnitude 8.8): Caused a deadly tsunami that reached as far as San Francisco.
• 1965 – Rat Islands, Alaska (Magnitude 8.7): Produced 35-foot waves but minimal casualties due to its remote location.
• 1950 – Assam-Tibet (Magnitude 8.6): Destroyed villages and caused deadly landslides in Northeast India.
• 2012 – Sumatra, Indonesia (Magnitude 8.6): A powerful offshore quake with limited damage but significant seismic impact.

Oct 27, 2025 at 12:40 PM EDT

Was today’s earthquake the strongest in the Caribbean this year?

While Monday's 6.8 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Guadeloupe was powerful, and certainly the largest felt in the Caribbean this month, it is not the strongest this year.

In February, a 7.6 magnitude earthquake struck around 130 miles from George Town, in the Cayman Islands.

The struck the Caribbean on February 8, a Saturday evening, prompting a tsunami warning across much of the region, including Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Honduras and Cuba. A wave of 0.1 feet was recorded off the coast of Isla Mujeres, Mexico.

Damage was minimal to zero.

Oct 27, 2025 at 12:24 PM EDT

No tsunami threat confirmed after 6.8 magnitude shake off Guadeloupe coast

There is no tsunami threat after the recent earthquake off the coast of Guadalupe, according to the National Tsunami Warning Center.

Major tsunami damage is unlikely because recent quakes were strike-slip (sideways movement), not vertical, and far offshore, which means they did not displace enough water to create a dangerous tsunami.

...

Oct 27, 2025 at 12:13 PM EDT

USGS map shows people on surrounding Caribbean islands felt very light to no shakes during quake

...

Oct 27, 2025 at 12:00 PM EDT

This live blog has now closed

The coverage on this live blog has ended. Read below for a recap of events.

Oct 27, 2025 at 11:58 AM EDT

Guadeloupe earthquake strikes as Hurricane Melissa looms—is there a connection?

As Hurricane Melissa intensifies near Jamaica, a magnitude 6.5 earthquake and 6.0 aftershock struck off the coast of Guadeloupe in the Lesser Antilles early Monday. Initial reports confirm there is no tsunami threat, but the timing has raised questions about whether powerful storms can influence seismic activity.

Experts say it’s highly unlikely that Melissa triggered the quake. The hurricane is relatively small, hasn’t been active long, and was too far from the epicenter to have a direct impact.

Still, the U.S. Geological Survey notes that large, low-pressure systems like hurricanes can sometimes cause fault slip events—known as slow earthquakes—and may play a minor role in triggering seismic activity. However, such cases are rare and not statistically significant.

While the coincidence is striking, science suggests the earthquake and hurricane are unrelated.

Oct 27, 2025 at 11:45 AM EDT

How seismic waves travel through the Earth

Seismic waves generated by earthquakes move through the Earth at varying speeds depending on the material they pass through. These waves can travel as fast as 13 km/s (8.1 mi/s) in the deep mantle and as slow as 2 km/s (1.2 mi/s) in loose sediments.

There are two primary types of body waves: P waves (primary) and S waves (secondary). P waves travel faster—about 1.7 times the speed of S waves—and are the first to reach seismic observatories. Their arrival time, compared to S waves, helps estimate the earthquake’s distance and depth.

P waves compress and expand the ground in the direction of travel, while S waves move it vertically and horizontally. Though slower, S waves and surface waves cause the most damage due to their intense ground-shaking motion.

By analyzing wave arrival times, scientists can map earthquake sources and internal Earth structures. This technique led to the discovery of Earth’s core in 1913 by seismologist Beno Gutenberg.

Oct 27, 2025 at 11:43 AM EDT

Map shows impact of magnitude 6.8 Caribbean earthquake

Oct 27, 2025 at 11:20 AM EDT

Understanding earthquake magnitude and intensity

Humans have felt earthquakes for centuries, but measuring their strength has evolved significantly over time. Before modern instruments like strong-motion accelerometers, scientists estimated earthquake intensity based on visible damage and human reports.

Magnitude and intensity, though often confused, are distinct measurements. Magnitude refers to the energy released at the earthquake’s source and is represented by a single value. Intensity, on the other hand, describes the level of ground shaking at various locations and can vary depending on distance from the epicenter and local geological conditions.

The first magnitude scale was introduced by Charles Richter in 1935. It established that each unit increase corresponds to a tenfold increase in ground motion and a 32-fold increase in energy. Today, most seismologists use the moment magnitude scale, which more accurately reflects the total energy released during an earthquake. Despite this, the term “Richter scale” remains common in media coverage.

Oct 27, 2025 at 10:56 AM EDT

Types of faults and their role in earthquake generation

Earthquakes along tectonic plate boundaries are typically caused by movement on three main fault types: normal, reverse (thrust), and strike-slip. Normal and reverse faults involve vertical displacement—known as dip-slip—while strike-slip faults feature horizontal movement. Many earthquakes result from oblique slip, a combination of both vertical and horizontal motion.

Only the Earth's brittle crust and descending cool slabs of tectonic plates can store and release elastic energy through fault ruptures. Rocks hotter than 300 °C deform rather than break, so they are incapable of generating earthquakes.

Normal faults occur in regions where the crust is stretching, such as divergent boundaries, and usually produce earthquakes below magnitude 7. Reverse faults, found at convergent boundaries, are responsible for the most powerful quakes—megathrust events—often exceeding magnitude eight and accounting for the majority of global seismic energy release.

Strike-slip faults, like the San Andreas Fault, involve lateral movement and can generate earthquakes up to magnitude 8. Their vertical orientation limits rupture width, capping potential magnitude.

Stress levels vary across fault types: thrust faults form under the highest stress, strike-slip faults under intermediate stress, and normal faults under the lowest. These differences influence the amount of energy released during fault rupture, shaping the intensity and impact of earthquakes.

Oct 27, 2025 at 10:32 AM EDT

How tectonic earthquakes occur

Tectonic earthquakes are triggered when built-up strain energy along a fault line is suddenly released. Faults typically contain surface irregularities, known as asperities, which prevent smooth movement between tectonic plates. As these plates continue to shift, stress accumulates until it overcomes the friction holding the fault in place.

When the stress exceeds the fault’s resistance, the locked segment abruptly slips, releasing energy in the form of seismic waves, heat, and rock fracturing. This stick-slip behavior is explained by the elastic-rebound theory, which describes how strain builds gradually and is released in sudden bursts.

Only a small fraction—less than 10 percent—of an earthquake’s energy is emitted as seismic waves. Most is absorbed by the fault itself or converted into heat. While earthquakes slightly reduce the Earth’s elastic potential energy and increase its temperature, these effects are minor compared to the planet’s internal heat flow.

Oct 27, 2025 at 10:19 AM EDT

Historic earthquakes: Deadliest events and most powerful shocks

Among the most devastating earthquakes in history, the 1556 Shaanxi earthquake in China stands out. Occurring on January 23, it claimed over 100,000 lives, with the broader region eventually losing up to 830,000 people due to secondary disasters like famine and plague. Many fatalities were linked to the collapse of yaodongs—homes carved into loess hillsides.

The deadliest earthquake of the 20th century was the 1976 Tangshan quake in China, which killed between 240,000 and 655,000 people. In terms of magnitude, the 1960 Chilean earthquake remains the strongest ever recorded, reaching 9.5 on the seismograph. Its energy release was nearly double that of the 1964 Good Friday earthquake in Alaska.

Most of the ten largest recorded earthquakes have been megathrust events. Of these, only the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake ranks among the deadliest, largely due to the tsunami it triggered.

High death tolls often result from earthquakes striking densely populated areas or generating tsunamis. Vulnerable regions include those with infrequent but intense seismic activity and limited enforcement of building codes, increasing the risk of structural collapse and widespread casualties.

Oct 27, 2025 at 10:03 AM EDT

What causes earthquakes?

Earthquakes occur when stress built up along the Earth's crust is suddenly released, typically due to the movement of tectonic plates. These massive slabs of rock shift slowly over time, but their edges can lock due to friction. When the pressure becomes too great, the plates abruptly slip, sending seismic waves through the ground.

While tectonic activity is the leading cause, earthquakes can also result from volcanic eruptions, underground explosions, and human activities like mining or large-scale construction. In some regions, natural uplift from melting ice sheets may also contribute to seismic events. Each quake’s impact depends on its depth, magnitude, and proximity to populated areas.

Oct 27, 2025 at 09:50 AM EDT

Where is Antigua located?

Antigua is the largest island in the twin-island nation of Antigua and Barbuda, located in the northern Leeward Islands of the eastern Caribbean Sea. Positioned roughly 250 miles southeast of Puerto Rico, it lies between the Atlantic Ocean to the east and the Caribbean Sea to the west.

Geographically, Antigua sits north of Montserrat and Guadeloupe and east of St. Kitts and Nevis, forming part of the Lesser Antilles. The country’s capital, St. John's, is located on Antigua’s northwest coast and serves as the nation's cultural and economic hub.

Oct 27, 2025 at 09:36 AM EDT

What makes an earthquake ‘major’?

Earthquakes classified as “major” typically fall between magnitude 7.0 and 7.9, a range capable of causing severe damage across vast areas. But the term can also apply to quakes that inflict significant destruction due to other contributing factors.

Magnitude alone doesn’t determine impact. Shallow quakes—those closer to the surface—often produce firmer ground shaking than deeper ones. Proximity to densely populated areas increases the risk of casualties and infrastructure damage, especially where building codes are weak or unenforced.

Local geology also plays a role. Soft soils and certain rock types can amplify seismic waves, intensifying the shaking. The most powerful earthquake ever recorded, a magnitude 9.5 event in Chile in 1960, remains a stark reminder of how devastating significant quakes—those above magnitude 8.0—can be.

Oct 27, 2025 at 09:23 AM EDT

Magnitude 6.8 earthquake reported in beaus region

A magnitude 6.8 earthquake was recorded in the Beaus region on Monday morning, according to seismic data reviewed manually by authorities. The quake struck at 7:38 a.m. local time (12:38 UTC) at a shallow depth of less than 30 kilometers, centered at latitude 16.54°N and longitude 59.49°W.

The event, identified as SGC2025vdvgzg, was detected by 105 monitoring stations and analyzed across 108 seismic phases. Its shallow depth and strength place it within the “major” category, capable of causing severe damage over large areas depending on proximity and infrastructure.

Oct 27, 2025 at 09:11 AM EDT

Magnitude 6.8 earthquake strikes off Guadeloupe Coast

A magnitude 6.8 earthquake was detected off the coast of Guadeloupe early Monday, according to seismic data from the Colombian Geological Survey and confirmation from government officials. The quake struck at 7:38 a.m. local time (12:38 UTC) at a shallow depth of less than 30 kilometers, centered at latitude 16.54° and longitude -59.49°.

Earthquakes in the 6.1–6.9 range are considered potentially destructive in populated areas up to 100 kilometers across, especially where infrastructure is vulnerable.

View 0 Comments

Request Reprint & Licensing

Submit Correction

View Editorial & AI Guidelines