A powerful magnitude-6.5 earthquake struck off the coast of Guadeloupe on Monday, shaking parts of the eastern Caribbean but causing no immediate reports of damage or casualties, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS).

The quake’s epicentre was located about 160 kilometres (100 miles) east of the French island territory at a shallow depth of nine kilometres. It occurred at around 8:30 a.m. local time (12:30 GMT).

Authorities briefly issued a tsunami warning following the tremor, which was followed by several strong aftershocks. Residents in both Guadeloupe and the neighbouring island of Martinique reported feeling the quake.

Local emergency agencies have not announced any casualties or major damage, but officials are monitoring the situation amid concerns about aftershocks.

The Caribbean region, located along the boundary of the Caribbean and North American tectonic plates, is known for frequent seismic activity.

Earlier this year, a magnitude-5.7 earthquake struck near Dominica in June, rattling nearby islands but causing only minor damage. In March, a magnitude-6.2 quake hit near Puerto Rico, damaging several buildings and briefly disrupting power.

The most devastating earthquake in recent Caribbean history remains the 2010 Haiti disaster, when a magnitude-7.0 quake killed more than 200,000 people and displaced millions.

Monday’s earthquake serves as another reminder of the region’s vulnerability to major seismic events, with experts urging continued preparedness and strict enforcement of building standards in earthquake-prone areas.