By: Staff Writer
April 18, 2023
The University of the West Undies Seismic Research Centre said that the Jamaica earthquake this past Saturday is as a result of the same fault line that destroyed Haiti in 2010 and 2020 and that Jamaicans need to follow the official information channels for possible earthquakes.
Rodrigo Contreras-Arratia, Research Fellow in Seismology at the UWI SRC, told Caribbean Magazine Plus via text message that the 4.6 earthquake was a “completely usual observation” in a very active seismic area like Jamaica.
He added: “The Island lies in the projection of the Enriquillo fault system that affected Haiti in 2010 and 2021. These kind of seismicity can be isolated or being part of a sequence, however, there are no new events registered in the area, thus, we would not expect an escalation on activity.”
The earthquake, which was recorded in Jamaica at approximately 4:36 pm, also reportedly affected Haiti, Cuba and some areas of the United States.
The last earthquake to affect Jamaica was in 2020 when a 7.7 hit the island near Montego Bay and also the Cayman Islands. This was the largest earthquake in the Caribbean since 1946 scientists have said.
But the casualties was nowhere near the Jamaican earthquake of 1692 that struck Port Royal on 7 June that killed 2,000 people.
Two-thirds of the town, about 33 acres sank into the sea immediately after the main shock. According to Robert Renny in his An History of Jamaica (1807): “All the wharves sunk at once, and in the space of two minutes, nine-tenths of the city were covered with water, which was raised to such a height, that it entered the uppermost rooms of the few houses which were left standing. The tops of the highest houses were visible in the water and surrounded by the masts of vessels, which had been sunk along with them.”
Mr Contreras-Arratia also said: “Jamaicans need to follow the official information channels and prepare for a possible earthquake. Including secure shelves and locate heavy items near the floor at home and offices. During the shaking practice the DCH (drop cover and hold on) until the shaking stops.”
The UWI SRC’s website has more detailed information on earthquake preparedness as they encourage all precautions to be taken. https://uwiseismic.com/earthquakes/preparedness/