SEPTEMBER 29, 2006 - On Friday morning (29th September) at 9:08 a.m. local time, an earthquake occurred less than 5km off the north coast of Trinidad. The preliminary magnitude is 5.5 and location for the event is 10.83°N 61.41°W, with a focal depth of 40km. This event was reported as widely felt throughout Trinidad, Tobago, Venezuela, Grenada and St. Vincent and the Grenadines and there have been no reports of injuries and several reports of minor damage - cracks in walls.
With earthquakes of this magnitude, scientists will expect aftershocks - other earthquakes - of similar or smaller magnitude. Unfortunately, earthquakes cannot be predicted and we cannot say when these aftershocks may occur. Please note that scientists from the Seismic Research Unit HAVE NOT issued a warning that a larger earthquake will occur later on today.
The USGS has reported that this morning's earthquake was of magnitude 6.0 while our records show a preliminary magnitude of 5.5. SRU instruments are closer to the epicenter and we also have a better distribution of instruments near the source of the earthquake so we are confident that our magnitude of 5.5 is accurate.
Trinidad and Tobago lies in an area of high earthquake activity for the Caribbean.
The National Disaster Management Agency (NaDMA) wishes to inform the general public that according to the SRU no warning is in effect for a Tsunami – based on earth and historical Tsunami information.
The earthquake was not sufficient to generate a Tsunami.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Several persons throughout Grenada have reported that they have felt another earth tremor (a possible aftershock) this afternoon around 2:15 p.m.
