What the record shows for Cayman Islands
The strongest earthquake on record near Cayman Islands is a magnitude 7.7 in 2020, centred 123 km NNW of Lucea, Jamaica - 6 years ago. The event is catalogued by USGS. See the event record.
Over the last 20 years, USGS has catalogued 140 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater within 300 km of Cayman Islands - roughly 7 a year. That rate describes how often the ground moves enough to be recorded, not how often damage occurs; most of these are never felt.
The NOAA NCEI database records 2 tsunamis within 300 km of Cayman Islands between 2020 and 2025. The most significant was in 2020 near Off Se Coast Of Cuba, triggered by an M7.7 earthquake.
Sources: USGS earthquake catalog, NOAA tsunami database, and the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. Figures update as the catalogs are revised.
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The Cayman Trough south of the islands is the deepest point in the Caribbean and marks an active transform boundary.
The only real protection is a warning the moment the ground moves - which is exactly what the free QuakeMate app gives you, along with tsunami and volcano alerts for Cayman Islands.
Earthquake risk in Cayman Islands - FAQ
Is Cayman Islands at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 7 quakes a year nearby of magnitude 4+ within 300 km, based on the last 20 years of USGS data. The strongest earthquake on record nearby is M7.7 in 2020.
What was the biggest earthquake in Cayman Islands?
The strongest earthquake on record near Cayman Islands is M7.7, in 2020 (123 km NNW of Lucea, Jamaica), from USGS.
Does Cayman Islands get tsunamis?
Yes - 2 tsunamis since 2020 (most recently 2025) within 300 km, from the NOAA database.
How do I get earthquake warnings in Cayman Islands?
Download the free QuakeMate app for iPhone. It watches your location and sends a real-time push the instant a quake strikes nearby, plus tsunami and volcano alerts, with custom magnitude and distance rules. On Android, join the waitlist.