Climatologist Dale Destin has called for greater tsunami awareness in Antigua and Barbuda after a powerful earthquake shook the country on Saturday.

The quake struck at about 10:50 local time on 16 May and measured 6.1 magnitude, according to the United States Geological Survey. The University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre recorded it at 6.4 magnitude.

The tremor was felt across the north-eastern Caribbean and is among the strongest recorded near Antigua and Barbuda in recent history.

There were no reports of deaths or major damage, although videos on social media showed goods falling from shelves as people fled buildings.

Mr Destin said the earthquake did not trigger a tsunami, but warned it should serve as a reminder of the region’s vulnerability to seismic activity.

He said Antigua and Barbuda lies in a tectonically active zone where the Atlantic Plate is forced beneath the Caribbean Plate, making earthquakes and volcanic eruptions common in the eastern Caribbean.

Mr Destin also urged residents to recognise tsunami warning signs, including prolonged shaking, sudden sea retreat and unusual ocean behaviour. People living in coastal areas were advised to move inland or seek higher ground if such signs appear.

He said the earthquake should be a “wake-up call” for improved disaster preparedness across the country.