People assemble in an open space on the Jamaica Pegasus hotel property in New Kingston Monday morning after a magnitude 5.6 earthquake shook the island. (Photos: Garfield Robinson)
October 30, 2023
Other times when the earth shook in Jamaica
MONDAY’S 5.6-magnitude earthquake came just over 30 years after the island was jolted by a 5.4-magnitude tremor that resulted in two deaths and significant damage to buildings and infrastructure.
The 1993 quake occurred on January 13. Information on the Internet attributed to The University of the West Indies said approximately 518 families suffered loss of houses and properties. Of the 518 displaced citizens, 450 were from Kingston and St Andrew. Water infrastructure was affected as the Rio Cobre pipeline in Caymanas Estate was damaged because of liquefaction, while liquefaction-related cracks were observed on the Hunts Bay causeway bridge.
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There was also damage to the National Water Commission’s water treatment plant building, water mains, and pipelines in several areas. Significant damage was also reported to the buildings of various educational institutions, the report states.
The earthquake also triggered power cuts and tripped up the telephone service, stalling the island’s communications system for hours.
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August Town was badly hit and houses were reportedly damaged.
People are seen in the New Kingston Shopping Centre car park after a 5.6-magnitude earthquake rattled the island on Monday morning.
Economic losses were estimated at $15,810,000. There were 7,871 insurance claims reporting losses of about $152 million submitted to insurance companies, and up to June 1993 claims in the value of $24 million were settled. The estimated total cost of damage incurred by the earthquake was $200 million.
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Landslides occurred along the Yallahs Water Pipeline route, between Hope River and August Town, Rest Haven and Bull Bay, and Cambridge and Eleven Miles. A landslide occurred in the limestone quarry located south of the Mona Reservoir. A number of roads were blocked or damaged as a result of landslides and the Government budgeted $2 million for the clearance of roads.
On September 21 this year sections of the island were rocked by a magnitude 5.0 earthquake.
The epicentre of the quake, which struck about 7:31 pm, was located 5 kilometres west of Hope Bay, Portland.
The quake was felt in St Catherine, St Ann, St Mary, Portland, St Thomas, and Kingston and St Andrew.
History, however, records that the most damaging quake to have hit Jamaica was the June 7, 1692 tremor that sank a portion of Port Royal into the sea and eventually resulted in the deaths of at least 2,000 people due to an outbreak of yellow fever which developed after the quake.
The Great Kingston earthquake of 1907 occurred on January 14. Information posted on the Internet states that of the 48,000 people living in Kingston at the time, more than 1,000 perished, mostly in the fires following the shocks (main and aftershocks). The aftershocks continued for the rest of the year.
Nine thousand people were left homeless throughout the island and building damage was estimated at £2 million.
On March 1, 1957 the island was hit by another earthquake that affected mostly Western Jamaica. The most damage was recorded in St James, particularly buildings, bridges, and roads. Three deaths and three fires were reported.
