A minor earthquake of preliminary magnitude 3.4 was reported in Jamaica, according to the Earthquake Unit at the University of the West Indies, Mona.
The quake occurred around 1:10 PM approximately 15km south of Hope Bay, Portland. It was felt in some sections of St. Andrew, but no damage has been reported.
Earthquake Awareness Day
The quake occurred on the same day when schools across Jamaica conducted safety drills, as part of their Earthquake Awareness Day activities.
Jamaica’s Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) launched the Earthquake Awareness Campaign on January 14, 2024, under the theme ‘Drop, Cover, Hold, Earthquake Readiness Is Within Our Control,’ with a series of activities scheduled until January 31.
Stay prepared, says ODPEM
In the meantime, Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Desmond McKenzie, says earthquake awareness and preparedness should be a year-round activity.
This is given Jamaica’s vulnerability to earthquakes due to its geographical location along the northern margin of the Caribbean Plate and the presence of active faults on the island.
“We need to ensure that our program of information and education is not just in the month of January but every week, every month of the year,” McKenzie said.
“I have tasked the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) to ensure that every month, there are simple messages that can be played. There cannot be too much information out there in the public domain when it comes on to taking necessary precautions around disasters,” he noted.
For his part, ODPEM Director General, Richard Thompson, indicated that Jamaica recorded 345 quakes in 2023 but only 14 were felt.
“The ODPEM continues the drive to increase Jamaica’s population awareness on earthquake safety measures and best practices. This is being pursued through a multisectoral, multi-agency approach to strengthen disaster preparedness and risk reduction, in addition to increasing disaster resilience in preparing for the response to and ultimately recovering from adverse earthquake events,” Thompson said.
Citing the 5.6 magnitude quake that rocked Jamaica on October 30, 2023, Thompson said it is a stark reminder of the country’s vulnerability and the efforts that are needed to ensure that the country is prepared.
