Jamaica jolted by 4.2 magnitude earthquake
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica was rocked by an estimated 4.2 magnitude earthquake on Wednesday night.
The quake occurred at approximately 8:02 pm and was reportedly felt in Kingston and St Andrew, Portland, and St Thomas.
It had a focal depth of 5.8 kilometres with its epicentre located approximately five kilometres south of Hope Bay, Portland.
The Officer of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) confirmed the quake and issued a statement reminding Jamaicans to remain calm when experiencing an earthquake.
They noted that during an earthquake, individuals are to:
- If you are inside, stay there, stand in a doorway or crouch under a desk or table away from windows or glass dividers.
- If you are outside, stay there. Stay away from objects such as buildings, trees, telephones and electric lines which could injure you .
- If you are in an automobile, drive away from overpasses. Stop in the safest place possible and stay there.
- Drop, cover, and hold.
After the earthquake, ODPEM said individuals are to:
- Evacuate the building as soon as the shaking stops;
- Safely inspect the building for cracks in walls, shifted posts and columns;
- If anything other than minor cracks are observed, do not enter the building until it has been inspected for safety by a professional; and
- Check for other safety hazards such as gas, water, sewage breaks, downed powerlines and electrical short circuits, damaged and weakened buildings, fire and fire hazards.
Earlier in the day, an earthquake with a magnitude of 4.2 rattled Port of Spain, Trinidad and Venezuela.
There were no immediate reports of damage or injuries in either incident.
