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A 5.3 magnitude earthquake struck Jamaica early yesterday morning, drawing the attention of the country’s leading geologist, Professor Simon Mitchell, who said the latest tremor had moved to the Wagwater Fault.
The Wagwater Fault is 1.5 to 2.5 kilometres wide and, along with four other faults, controls the tectonics of the Blue Mountains Block.
“I’m not particularly happy about it because this is a massive structure in Jamaica that probably hasn’t been moved in hundreds of thousands of years,” Mitchell told reporters. The Gleaners.
Mitchell said Friday’s earthquake followed a pattern that has been followed over the past two years, with earthquakes gradually moving westward across Jamaica, which worries him.
“So they started in St. Thomas and then went to Portland, and even though that’s a little further north, they’re still moving west and are now in St. Andrew, which suggests that the pressure is shifting from east to west,” said Mitchell, a professor of sedimentary geology at the University of the West Indies, Mona.
The Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) said on Friday that a 5.3 magnitude earthquake struck northeastern Jamaica at 8:01 a.m.
ODPEM said the University of the West Indies Seismological Unit reported that the epicentre of the earthquake was six kilometres northeast of Golden Springs, St Andrew, at a depth of 27 kilometres, with the intensity of the earthquake being felt across the island.
Additional evaluation
Mitchell said of greatest concern is the South Coast Fault, which stretches from south of St. Elizabeth to St. Thomas. He said stress on this fault system may be increasing.
“It’s not a good situation because you’re not fully prepared when an earthquake happens,” the professor said.
In addition, he said further assessments were underway to confirm the focal depth of 27 kilometers. If the earthquake was indeed that deep, he said, it could mean some kind of adjustment at the bottom of Jamaica’s crust.
He said the depth in Jamaica is about 25 to 30 kilometers.
Yesterday’s earthquake was the second major one in as many months. Last October, a 5.6 magnitude quake struck Jamaica, closing schools and businesses and sending panicked residents fleeing.
The quake lasted about 30 seconds and was centered 10 kilometers south of Buff Bay, Portland, and was felt in eastern Jamaica and several other parishes.
Earthquake Safety Tips
• Remain calm and, if necessary, help calm those around you.
• If you are inside a building, take cover under a sturdy table, protect your head and hold on… Drop Cover, Hold On (DCH).
• Stay away from windows and objects that could fall, such as loose wires.
• If you need to evacuate, use the stairs, not the elevator. Go to a safe area.
• If you are trapped, try banging on a metal object to make a sound.
• If you are outdoors, go to an open area away from trees, tall buildings, utility poles and power lines.
• If you are in a vehicle, pull over to the side of the road to allow emergency vehicles to pass and stop as quickly as safety permits.
• Park your vehicle safely away from utility poles and overhead wires.
• Do not stay on bridges or near buildings where debris may fall.
• Avoid parking near or under trees, overpasses, and power lines.
• After the shaking stops, stay in your vehicle and drive carefully, watching for damaged roads and bridges, fallen or downed objects, and power lines.
After the earthquake
• Check your home. If you think your home is unsafe, notify authorities and go to a temporary shelter or stay with people you know or family.
• Check official channels for the latest information.
• Be careful around electrical current, propane/natural gas lines, and chemical hazards.
• Help your family and community by providing messages of support and encouragement.
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