SUNDAY'S earthquake which was felt across most parishes caused moderate to severe damage to about two dozen houses in the parishes of Clarendon and Manchester, the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) reported yesterday.

MOUNT MORIAH, St Ann - Lucilda Walters looks at the damage done to her house in Mount Moriah, St Ann, near the Clarendon border, by Sunday earthquake. (Photo: Karl McLarty)

The Seismic Research Unit at the University of the West Indies, Mona, said the quake, which occurred at 10:58 pm and measured 5.1 on the European macroseismic scale, had it epicentre in Aenon Town, along the Clarendon/St Ann border.

The quake, which lasted for several seconds, was followed by 12 aftershocks, the last one around 7:00 am yesterday morning, the Seismic Research Unit said.

The ODPEM's acting director Ronald Jackson said there have been no reports of injuries, but said teams from his office were sent to locate residents who had fled their homes during the quake.
In Aenon Town, the town's public library and three houses were damaged, one of them severely, as a section of its wall collapsed.

Eight homes in Silent Hill in Alston Clarendon and 12 in Manchester had significant cracks, including one which had a collapsed wall and another was totally destroyed, according to the ODPEM.

There were also unconfirmed reports that a number of houses were damaged in St Ann in the districts of Mount Moriah, Coffee Ridge, Cave Valley and Borobridge. Teams from the ODPEM and the Ministry of Labour and Social Security are expected to carry out assessments in these areas today.

So far, preliminary estimates put the cost of damages to houses in Manchester at more than $1 million.
"Some of these houses are very small and quite a few are older in terms of the type of material and the age of the building, hence the small figure," Jackson told the Observer.

Jackson, in the meantime, said persons should endeavour to make their structures sound and ensure their houses are insured.
He said that during an earthquake, persons should go under a table or desk or stand under a doorjamb to safeguard against falling debris, cover head with your hands and hold on firmly to the desk or table.

Meanwhile, head of the Seismic Research Unit Margaret Grandison said the earthquake was on land mass and therefore could not have generated a tsunami.
"The hope is that this one has released a significant amount of strain," she said.

She said that since earthquakes cannot be predicted before hand, Jamaicans should ensure that their structures are not built in vulnerable areas, and that anti-seismic designs are used when putting up buildings.

She said, too, that persons should make sure tall pieces of furniture are strapped to the wall to prevent them from toppling over and that gas cylinders are also strapped or in a cage so they don't break a line and cause a fire.

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