Residents across Antigua and Barbuda described panic, confusion, and relief after a powerful earthquake struck on Saturday morning.

According to the University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre, the magnitude 6.5 earthquake occurred at 10:50 a.m.

In addition, officials said the quake struck at a depth of 31 kilometres.

Preliminary data placed the epicentre about 80 kilometres northeast of St. John’s.

The tremor was also located near Brades and Pointe-à-Pitre.

Meanwhile, the SRC said computer algorithms generated the initial location automatically. However, analysts still need to review the data further.

Despite the strong shaking, authorities reported no immediate injuries or major damage.

Still, residents across several communities said the tremor felt intense and frightening.

Social media quickly filled with reactions from shocked residents across the country.

One resident on Old Parham Road said items fell from shelves during the shaking.

Meanwhile, people in Yorks, Powells, Liberta, and New Winthorpes also reported strong movement.

“It was super strong,” one resident wrote online.

Another person described the quake as “very big and heavy and long.”

Some residents admitted they initially struggled to understand what was happening.

“I thought my husband was playing a trick on me,” one woman commented after feeling the shaking while showering.

Others described panic in public places as the tremor continued.

One commenter claimed shoppers and workers rushed out of a hardware store on Old Parham Road during the quake.

In the aftermath, many residents also used social media to check on relatives, roads, and nearby communities.

Additionally, several people turned to prayer after the earthquake ended.

“Thank God for your grace and mercy towards us,” one resident wrote online.

The Eastern Caribbean regularly experiences seismic activity because of tectonic movement between the Caribbean and North American plates.

Therefore, earthquakes often affect several islands across the region.

However, many residents said Saturday’s tremor felt stronger than the most recent earthquakes.

Overall, the quake left many people shaken but thankful that the situation did not become worse.