The tremor which was felt in sections of Jamaica on Tuesday is attributed to last month’s earthquake, according to Professor Simon Mitchell, a Sedimentary Geologist at the Earthquake Unit.
Reports are that the 4.2 earthquake occurred about 1:27 in the afternoon and was located approximately 10 kilometers South of Hope Bay, Portland.
Mitchell’s analysis provides valuable insights into the geological processes underlying such events.
Aftershocks: A prolonged phenomenon
Speaking on Radio Jamaica’s “Beyond the Headlines,” Professor Mitchell noted that the impact of aftershocks can reverberate for an extended period, sometimes spanning up to a year following a major earthquake.
Nature’s domino effect: Understanding aftershocks
Professor Mitchell illustrated the mechanics of aftershocks as a complex interplay of geological forces. He likened the process to a set of dominoes, gradually toppling over.
He explained that when a seismic event occurs along a fault line, it transfers stress to neighboring fault lines. These neighboring faults may respond in various ways, sometimes with immediate movements or remaining dormant until another minor quake triggers their activity.
Last month’s earthquake
On October 30, Jamaica experienced a seismic jolt, sending shockwaves across the island.
Structural damage was reported in some parts of Portland and Kingston, among other parishes.
The general consensus from Jamaicans on social media was that this was the strongest felt earthquake to hit the island in at least two decades.
According to reports, the earthquake also affected Haiti, the United States Minor Outlying Islands, and Cuba.
The epicenter of the quake was 4 kilometers from Hope Bay, Jamaica, with a depth of 10 km.
The earthquake was felt in the Eastern and Central parishes of the island, specifically Kingston and St Andrew, Clarendon, St. Mary, St Catherine, St Thomas, Portland, St Elizabeth, and Manchester.
This follows the 4.3 magnitude earthquake that rocked the island in September.
