Jamaica rocked by 5.3 earthquake Friday morning

An estimated magnitude 5.3 earthquake was reported at 8:01 am on Friday morning in Jamaica. The quake was confirmed by the Earthquake Unit at The University of West Indies, Mona Campus.

A moderate earthquake of preliminary magnitude 5.3, located approximately 6km northeast of Golden Spring, St. Andrew, was reported as felt at 8:01 AM on Friday, August 16, 2024 in Jamaica. Did you feel it? Please fill out our Intensity Form below: https://t.co/r9KxPyrMwL pic.twitter.com/tEiDBPqAGv

— Earthquake Unit (@EarthquakeUnit) August 16, 2024

Its epicenter was reported 6km northeast of Golden Spring in St. Andrew, with a depth of 10km. The quake was felt islandwide. No injuries or major damage has yet been reported. The last major earthquake of a similar magnitude was the 5.4 quake that rocked Jamaica last October and left minor structural damage across the island. The general consensus from Jamaicans on social media was that it was the strongest felt quake to hit the island in at least two decades.