No tsunami alert says Barbados, high surf advisory only

#Barbados, March 5, 2018 – At least one Caribbean meteorology department has issued a media statement to state that their country is not under a tsunami warning and has issued no alert.  Barbados said the WhatsApp message being circulated around the Caribbean is not authorized by their office.  

Barbados Today reports, that the Director of the Department of Emergency Management Kerry Hinds and the Director of the Barbados Meteorological Services Sonia Nurse, said “that on Friday, March 2, the MET Office issued a high surf advisory and a small craft warning for Barbados, which is valid until Wednesday, March 7.  However, she stressed that this did not signify a tsunami threat.”  

It is believed the WhatsApp message took flight following a 4.9 magnitude earthquake in Cost Rica on March 2, 2018 but Barbados Officials said even if the country had issued a tsunami alert, “…tsunamis warnings issued by the Barbados MET Office would not be transferred to the public via Whatsapp, but through official sources, including the Barbados Government Information Service.”

Coincidentally in Barbados, March is the month recognized as Tsunami and Earthquake Smart Month and this year’s theme is ‘Road to Tsunami Recognition’.