Federal officials issued a tsunami information statement Saturday morning after a powerful earthquake struck near the Leeward Islands in the Caribbean Sea.
According to the National Tsunami Warning Center, there is currently no tsunami danger for South Carolina, the U.S. East Coast, Gulf Coast states, or eastern Canada.
The earthquake registered at magnitude 6.1 and occurred around 10:50 a.m. Eastern Time near the Leeward Islands at a depth of roughly 39 miles.
Officials said historic tsunami data and current earthquake information indicate the quake is not expected to generate a tsunami threat for the Charleston area or the broader East Coast.
The advisory was issued as an informational statement rather than a warning or watch.
While tsunami threats along the East Coast are extremely rare, experts note they are not impossible. The Charleston region has historically monitored offshore seismic activity closely because of its coastal location and long history with major earthquakes.
Officials encouraged residents seeking updates to monitor information from the National Weather Service and tsunami.gov.
