A powerful offshore earthquake near Venezuela late Wednesday sent tsunami experts into rapid review mode, but federal officials say there is no tsunami danger for the U.S. East Coast, including South Florida. The 7.1‑magnitude quake was strong enough to raise eyebrows, yet authorities say Florida beaches and ports are not at risk.
What the bulletin said
According to the National Tsunami Warning Center, the earthquake was preliminarily measured at magnitude 7.1, with an epicenter near 10.5°N, 68.4°W and a shallow depth of roughly 6 miles. The bulletin states, "There is no tsunami danger for the U.S. east coast, the Gulf of America states, or the eastern coast of Canada," and notes this will be the only NTWC message for U.S. shores unless additional information becomes available.
How local agencies relayed it
The official NWS Miami account quickly echoed that message, retweeting the NTWC bulletin and posting that there was "NO tsunami, NO danger" for the region. The late Wednesday update is available on X.
How this affects South Florida
There are no tsunami watches or warnings in effect for the U.S. East Coast at this time, and no coastal evacuations have been announced for Florida, according to the National Tsunami Warning Center. If you felt any shaking, you are encouraged to report what you experienced and check shaking maps at USGS, and to keep an eye on local emergency channels in case conditions change.
Bottom line
Federal forecasters will continue reviewing sea‑level data and will issue new messages if needed, but for now officials say residents can stick with their normal coastal plans while staying tuned to official updates.
