Magnitude 4.34 earthquake felt in VI
The earthquake, according to the Department of Disaster Management (DDM) occurred approximately 24 miles north of St Thomas, US Virgin Islands (6.92 Km North-Northeast of Anegada, 35.54 Km North-Northeast of Virgin Gorda, and 195.93 Km East-Northeast of San Juan, Puerto Rico in the Virgin Islands Platform region).
Affected countries included the Virgin Islands, Dominica, Saint Martin, Sint Maarten, Guadeloupe, Montserrat, Puerto Rico, Saint Kitts and Nevis, the US Virgin Islands, Caribbean Netherlands, Saint Barthélemy, Antigua and Barbuda, and Anguilla.
No warning, advisory or watch is in effect for the Virgin Islands or Puerto Rico regarding the threat of a Tsunami.
‘Earthquake went on for ages’
Meanwhile, persons reported feeling the tremor in Free Bottom, Hodges Creek, Baughers Bay, Challwell, Palestina, Beef Island and Cane Garden Bay.
One person commented on social media: “That went on for ages in Sea Cows Bay. I ran out the shower. Was outside dripping wet in my towel.”
Earthquake swarm
The latest earthquake to be felt in the Virgin Islands comes a day after an earthquake swarm occurred in the Puerto Rico/Virgin Islands region.
The Swiss Seismological Service (SED)said in so-called 'earthquake swarms', numerous earthquakes occur locally over an extended period without a clear sequence of foreshocks, main quakes and aftershocks.
According to the Department of Disaster Management (DDM), on December 6, 2019, starting at 01:54am local time with a 3.58 Md magnitude earthquake, the Puerto Rico Seismic Network (PRSN) registered 5 seismic events in the space of 5 hours in the Puerto Rico Trench seismic zone.
“All the events had magnitudes greater than 3.5 Md (3.57 to 3.73), and depths between 45 km to 78 km. The seismic swarm occurred in the Puerto Rico Trench at approximately 100 Km N-NW Anegada, BVI,” DDM stated on December 6, 2019.
Meanwhile, the PRSN said “swarm activity” in this region does occur periodically so this seismic behaviour is “not unusual”.
During an earthquake, it is advised to stay calm, if you are inside, stay there, move away from ceiling fans, glass windows and doors or anything that may fall. Get under a desk or sturdy piece of furniture cover your head and hold on.
If outdoors, persons are encouraged to move into an open area away from trees, building, or utility wires and poles.
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