Antigua and Barbuda's emergency officials issued an official 'all clear' on Thursday following the completion of a scheduled tsunami preparedness drill, signalling the conclusion of the 2026 Caribe Wave Tsunami Exercise. According to Antigua News Room, the Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Service, acting as the country's National Tsunami Warning Focal Point and Tsunami Warning Centre, issued Tsunami Bulletin Number 3 at 12:30 pm AST on March 19, 2026, formally cancelling the simulated tsunami warning.
The exercise was centred on a simulated magnitude 7.6 earthquake with a hypothetical origin time of 11:00 am AST on March 19, 2026. The simulated seismic event was modelled at coordinates 17.6° North, 82.6° West, at a depth of 10 kilometres, with its location placed north of Honduras.
Authorities emphasised throughout the drill that no actual tsunami threat existed at any point. The exercise bulletins were clearly and repeatedly labelled to distinguish the simulation from a genuine emergency alert.
Based on the simulated earthquake data, officials evaluated that the tsunami threat from the fictional seismic event had passed and posed no further danger. Minor sea level fluctuations of up to 0.3 metres, or approximately one foot, above and below normal tide levels were noted as a potential residual impact within the exercise scenario, and could continue for several hours.
Residents in coastal areas were advised, as part of the exercise guidance, to remain alert, follow instructions from local authorities, and exercise normal caution near the sea.
The Met Service confirmed that the bulletin issued on Thursday would serve as the final statement for the exercise event, unless new information warranted an update. The public was directed to follow updates through the Common Alert Protocol (CAP), the official website antiguamet.com, and the Met Service's social media channels on X (Twitter), Facebook, and YouTube. ABS Radio and Television were also cited as platforms for official updates.
