Nine earthquakes on one day near Trinidad and Tobago has prompted the University of the West Indies’ Seismic Research Centre (SRC) to urge citizens of the twin-island republic to be prepared for the eventuality of a large earthquake.
But it has made it clear that last week’s bust of quakes was not necessarily an indication of a big one to come.
Last Friday, there was a sequence of earthquakes – including moderate magnitude events at 10:40 a.m., 10:47 a.m., 4:30 p.m., and 6:05 p.m. – occurring west and south-west of Trinidad. The magnitudes ranged from 3.4 to 5.2 and depths were generally shallow – less than 35 km.
The SRC said the quakes were reported as lightly felt across western Trinidad, and no damage was reported.
“Bursts of earthquakes do occur and are not necessarily indicative of the occurrence of a larger magnitude event; however, as we continue to advise, a significant magnitude earthquake can occur at any time,” it said.
“Such an event might occur in the general area of these events or elsewhere in the vicinity of Trinidad and Tobago, which lies in an area where significant magnitude earthquakes do occur.”
It pointed out that in the general area of last Friday’s events, there were two earthquakes, both of magnitude 6.5, in 1935 and 1945.
“We should, therefore, always be prepared,” the SRC stressed.