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Powerful Earthquake Shakes Office Building in Cayman Islands

A 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit around 78 miles off the coast of Jamaica on Tuesday, January 28, according to the United States Geological Survey.

The USGS said the quake’s epicenter was recorded in the sea north-northwest of Lucea, Jamaica. Tremors were felt in locations across Jamaica, Cuba, the Cayman Islands, the Dominican Republic, and even in Miami, Florida, according to reports.

Alec Pultr experienced the earthquake from his office desk on Grand Cayman and said it was the biggest he had felt in his 13 years living on the island. “We were simply working and things started to sway. Then more violently, so most people started to run, and the rest of us went under our desks. I would say it lasted for a few minutes at least,” Pultr wrote to Storyful.

“First I felt confusion as to why on Earth the building was moving. Then I realized that it was an earthquake. That’s when I felt a mixture of shock and fear and just thought of getting under the table as fast as I could,” Pultr said.

Later, the USGS reported a 6.5-magnitude earthquake struck in the sea just over 30 miles from Grand Cayman’s East End. Credit: Alec Pultr via Storyful