PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) — Caribbean residents had been shaken up late Monday evening as two earthquakes struck simply hours aside, jolting a number of islands and sending many dashing from their properties in concern.
In response to the Seismic Analysis Centre (SRC) on the College of the West Indies, St Augustine Campus, the second and stronger quake hit at 11:36 p.m. (native time) with a magnitude of 4.2 and a depth of 11 kilometres.
The tremor was felt throughout components of Antigua and Barbuda, Montserrat, and St Kitts and Nevis, with studies indicating the epicentre was situated 52 km north-northeast of St John’s (Antigua and Barbuda), 101 km northeast of Brades (Montserrat), and 116 km east-northeast of Basseterre (St Kitts and Nevis).
Earlier within the evening, at 9:09 p.m., a magnitude 3.5 quake shook the area, recorded at a depth of 20 kilometres. That earlier tremor was felt 83 km northeast of Basseterre, 117 km northwest of St John’s, and 135 km north of Brades, in keeping with the SRC.
Although there have been no quick studies of injury or accidents, many residents took to social media describing the shakes as “quick however robust”, whereas others mentioned it “felt like a heavy truck passing below the home.”
One St. Kitts resident instructed McKoy’s Information, “Mi did only a drop asleep when di mattress begin transfer! Mi coronary heart skip a beat, mi swear is a spirit move by way of di room!”
Officers are reminding the general public that earthquakes can happen with out warning and are urging residents throughout the area to remain alert, safe heavy gadgets in properties, and know protected zones in case of future seismic exercise.
The SRC continues to observe the state of affairs intently and says these small quakes are a part of the area’s ongoing tectonic exercise, a reminder that the Caribbean sits inside a seismically lively zone.
For now, life has returned to regular throughout the islands — however after two jolts in a single evening, many say they’ll be sleeping slightly lighter for some time.
