Reports confirm that no Jamaicans were affected by the 4.8 magnitude earthquake that shook New York City and its surrounding areas on the United States East Coast last Friday.
Minister of State in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Alando Terrelonge indicated that he had dialogue with Jamaica’s Consul General in New York, Alsion Wilson, in the quake’s aftermath during which she assured him that no information has surfaced that any of the country’s nationals were harmed by the tremor.
“Based on the reports received from the Office of the Mayor of New York, there were no serious impacts or infrastructural damage, and schools and after-school programs continued throughout the day,” he told JIS News.
The earthquake’s epicenter near Lebanon, New Jersey, with tremors felt from Pennsylvania to Connecticut, marks one of the strongest to hit the U.S. east coast recently. Terrelonge expressed gratitude that Jamaicans in the Diaspora and the entire Tri-State area were unharmed.
“We take the safety of our citizens living in the Diaspora very seriously, and will continue to liaise with our Diaspora groups and organizations across the Tri-State area as we monitor the situation. As one Jamaican family, we encourage our family members abroad to take all the necessary safety precautions to protect themselves and their families, as aftershocks are expected,” he said.
Multiple aftershocks following major earthquake
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) indicated that at least six aftershocks were reported by residents and the United States Geological Survey.
The BBC further reported that the Statue of Liberty in New York was seen swaying during the initial tremor, while workers and residents across the city’s five boroughs reported the occurrence of violent rumbling.
New Jersey Governor, Phil Murphy, reported that a safety assessment had commenced across the State, adding that top among his concerns were the Hudson River tunnels, although there were no reports of major damage.
