Jamaica earthquake news: Caribbean rocked by two huge tremors near Cuba and Cayman Islands, with buildings evacuated in parts of US

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Tremors felt in Miami, Jamaica and Cayman Islands following 7.7-magnitude earthquake

Two large earthquake have rocked the Caribbean, after an initial 7.7 magnitude quake struck off the shore of Jamaica, the US Geological Survey says.

The first was enough send tremors that have swayed buildings and sparked evacuations as far as Miami, Florida. Then just under two hours later, a 6.1 magnitude quake hit just off the shorts of the Cayman Islands, where sinkholes and damage had already been seen.

The 7.7 magnitude quake that hit just northwest of Jamaica, and southeast of Cuba. A tsunami warning has meanwhile been issued for Cuba, Jamaica and the Cayman Islands.

One person in Jamaica has told The Independent that it was the "most serious earthquake I've ever felt". Another individual on the island said the tremors lasted "at least a minute".

Look back at our live earthquake updates below

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Key Points

• Second large quake of 6.1 magnitude hits near Cayman Islands
• Tsunami warning issued for Cuba, Jamaica and Cayman Islands has passed
• Earthquake causes buildings to sway as far as Miami, Florida
• 'This is the most serious earthquake I've ever felt'
• Quake felt in five Mexico states

[28 January 2020 20:51 · Clark Mindock]

Here is some striking footage out of the Cayman Islands, showing large waves in a swimming pool from the earthquake.

[28 January 2020 21:01 · Clark Mindock]

The tsunami warning triggered by today's earthquake has passed.

[28 January 2020 21:17 · Clark Mindock]

In the Cayman Islands, we're seeing more reports of apparent sinkholes.

Here's a video from an individual who said they are there:

[28 January 2020 21:55 · Clark Mindock]

On perhaps the lighter side of things, a video purporting to show a man attempting to save beer in the Cayman Islands during the earthquake has been posted online. The Independent is working to independently confirm the video's authenticity.

[28 January 2020 21:59 · Clark Mindock]

You want sinkhole news? We've got you covered. Read all about it right here:

[28 January 2020 22:05 · Clark Mindock]

Some scientific confirmation that the rupture that caused today's earthquake travelled west towards the Cayman Islands.

[28 January 2020 22:35 · Clark Mindock]

Here's from outside of the buildings in Miami that were evacuated this afternoon amid the earthquake.

The epicentre of the quake was more than 400 miles away.

[28 January 2020 22:37 · Clark Mindock]

The US Geological survey is reporting that another powerful hurricane — a 6.5 magnitude quake — has hit close to the Cayman islands.

It is the second largest earthquake today amid what appears to be a cluster, and following the main even near Jamaica.

[28 January 2020 23:36 · Chiara.Giordano]

Quake felt in five Mexico states

The 7.7-magnitude quake was felt in five Mexico states including as far away as Veracruz, on the country's Gulf Coast, Mexico's National Seismological Service has reported.

[29 January 2020 00:01 · Chiara.Giordano]

String of aftershocks as strong as magnitude-6.1 

The initial tremor of the Caribbean quake caused a series of strong aftershocks, including one that measured magnitude-6.1.

The quake was felt strongly in Santiago, the largest city in eastern Cuba.

Belkis Guerrero, who works in the centre of Santiago, said told Associated Press: "We were all sitting and we felt the chairs move.

"We heard the noise of everything moving around."

She said there was no apparent damage in the heart of the colonial city.

"It felt very strong but it doesn't look like anything happened," she said.