Strong Earthquake in Caribbean (7.4) No Tsunami

[angelwing]

Interesting email I just got:

Breaking Volcano News
by Jim Seach

Mount Pelee Volcano [Martinique] Thursday, November 29, 2007
Location: 14.82N, 61.17W Summit Elevation 1397M StratoVolcano

A Mag. 7.4 Earthquake hit today 15km NW of Pelee Volcano on
29th Nov. 2007. The Earthquake focus was located at a depth
of 145km. It is possible for Earthquakes of this magnitude
to disrupt volcanic systems. Pelee is one of the world's most
infamous volcanoes with a large eruption in 1902.
JOHN SEACH

[cycloneye]

Report from St Lucia

From: mike davis <mdavis76 at hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 30 Nov 2007 00:52:48 +0100

It happened about 3pm this afternoon and it was definitely the most powerful and longest earthquake that I had ever felt and everyone is saying the same thing. There was also a weaker and shorter one yesterday about 10:15am and a 5.6 magnitude on the morning of September 13th. All of these earthquakes have their epicenters located around Martinique. We need to find out what is the cause of this because we live in a volcanic region. There was total chaos in Castries this afternoon as people ran outside of shops and offices causing traffic jams. In spite of the violent earthquake, i'm even more shocked, and thankful, that there was not more damage. Some buildings have been damaged in Martinique though. I hope there were no serious injuries as a result of this event.

http://stormcarib.com/

[Beam]

good thing it was so deep. the last thing we need is a tsunami

[HurricaneQueen]

So glad that everyone seems to have fared well. Was very worried about our Caribbean neighbors until more news was relayed. I'm sure it was a terrifying experience and people will be very nervous in the coming days if there are more after shocks.

Stay safe!!!

Lynn

[msbee]

Report on Stormcarib from Martinique

British citzen reporteadly died

* From: "Jacques PERMAL" <jacques.permal at numericable.fr>
* Date: Thu, 29 Nov 2007 03:02:17 +0100

A british tourist died in TROIS-ILETS (south-west of MARTINIQUE) because of heart attack following the earthquake.
Six persons were injured while trying to flee through windows.
About 100 persons felt sickness.

[Stephanie]

WOW!

This is the first time I've seen this. I'm also wondering if it has something to do with Mt. Pelee or what it will do with it.

I'm sorry to read that there was one death and hopefully that will be the end.

I immediately thought about the cruise ships that are traveling in that area. I had been on a Carnival cruise in 1997 that brought me from Puerto Rico to St. Thomas, St. Maarten, Dominica, Martinique and Barbados. Each island was so beautiful.

I'm glad that our Caribbean S2K friends have checked in. Thank you for the updates and please keep them coming!

[HURAKAN]

This is just the Caribbean plate subducting under the North American plate.

[HURAKAN]

Plate tectonics:







Fortunately it was not a shallow earthquake because its position would have been devastating for the mid-islands of the Lesser Antilles.

[cycloneye]

Report From Dominica

From: "nichs Shilling" <nichs at hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 30 Nov 2007 02:51:38 +0000

I Offer a second hand account of the Earthquake experience in Dominica as I am currently in Trinidad which of course also experienced the earthquake. Here in TnT Its seismic shock waves appeared to be felt at varying strength and duration -though all will agree it was a rather strong and disturbing one.



But it is THE NATURE ISLE -Dominica That I wish to focus on?(Two hours after the event)



- All reports I obtained from the South of the Dominica near and around Roseau from Contact persons spoken with by via cell phone - indicated that there was no known structural/ infrastructural damage to report.



Assessments were still ongoing at the time but the Capital Roseau and its environs seemed to have faired Okay- May God be PRAISED INDEED!!!



However, a gentleman just outside of Roseau reported being suddenly shaken from his bed and drastically awoken from sleep! This he said was followed by serious to severe shaking and wobbling of the building structure. The earthquake felt violent and aggressive?He did think that structural collapse was imminent and headed immediately for the outside of the premises should the shaking have continued and damage resulted? Miraculously after the earthquake had fully subsided there was no visible damage to his home or the dwellings of others in the immediate vicinity thank God!



Nonetheless, in his opinion this Earthquake felt much worse than what was experienced in the South of the Island during the devastating Earthquake on Sunday, November 21st 2004 at 7: 41: 08 A.M. Note -*(the North of the island closer to the epicentre had much greater impact) -When the Mercy of God was shown on the Feast of Christ the King. Thus, No lives were lost then, in a Magnitude 6.3 Quake and as It stands now No lives have been lost Today in a Magnitude 7.4 Quake, Thank God. A lot is due perhaps to the fact that it was an intermediate depth earthquake at about 146Km in depth.



Earthquakes, such as this one, that have focal-depths between 70 and 300 km are commonly termed "intermediate-depth" earthquakes. Intermediate-depth earthquakes typically cause less damage on the ground surface above their foci than is the case with similar magnitude shallow-focus earthquakes, but large intermediate-depth earthquakes may be damaging nonetheless and may be felt at great distance from their epicenters as this one was- The Largest earthquake perhaps in Caribbean History felt from the Dominican Republic all the way to French Guiana and Caracas, Venezuela.

Some land slides have been reported around Dominica, which is to be anticipated with such Earth movements.



Notably, this Earthquake struck at an ?Hour of Mercy? at about 3 P.M. ? I do hope we will all Continue to take the right precautions and to plead for the continued Mercy of our Dear God. For all those who do pray and especially for those who Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet -may You continue to do so with fervour and Trust in the secure Future of these Caribbean Lands!

We Do need Faith, Hope and Prayer for this Beloved Region?

http://stormcarib.com/

[abajan]

Although it was not the strongest quake ever experienced in the eastern Caribbean - there was a 7.5 temblor back in 1975 - I'm pretty sure it was the most widely felt. This thing was felt all the way from Puerto Rico in the northwest to Guyana in the southeast. I definitely felt it! And I happened to be in one of the worst areas one can be in such an event: The ground floor of an old five storey building.

Earthquakes are a rarity in Barbados (once every 50 years or so) and most people, including myself, initially thought they were ill. I have experienced vertigo on a few occasions in my lifetime and that's what it felt like at first. It seemed my mind was just playing tricks on me and that the sensation would soon cease. But then a lady sitting next to me asked: "You felt that?" To which I replied: "Yes!", surprised that she had also felt it.

At that point, I thought it was probably some heavy machinery being used in the vicinity. But I soon realised that was unlikely because while levels above might be expected to flex in such a situation, I was on the ground floor. The wavelike sensation then waned but a couple seconds after, it got noticeably stronger and this time it was more akin to a large ship in rough seas. That's when we knew it had to be an earthquake and we hightailed it out of there! (We knew full well that earthquakes don't kill people - buildings do.)

In a flash, the vehicular and pedestrian traffic that had already been very heavy, with people preparing for today's Independence Day celebrations, developed into total gridlock with emergency vehicles trying their best to rush hither and thither. People were all over the place, having been evacuated from their office buildings etc.

Well, that was my first (and hopefully last) experience with an earthquake. I'd prefer a tropical storm any day because with those you get warned days in advance. To my knowledge, except for animals acting strangely just minutes before the event, earthquakes happen without warning. That's what's so scary about them.

For more info about Barbados' experience with the quake, check the following links:

http://www.nationnews.com/
http://www.cbc.bb/

[cycloneye]

Report from Martinique


From: "Jacques PERMAL" <jacques.permal at numericable.fr>
Date: Thu, 29 Nov 2007 03:02:17 +0100

A british tourist died in TROIS-ILETS (south-west of MARTINIQUE) because of heart attack following the earthquake.
Six persons were injured while trying to flee through windows.
About 100 persons felt sickness.

Un premier bilan fait état d'un mort, un Britannique qui a été victime d'un malaise cardiaque aux Trois-Ilets (Martinique). On signale aussi un nombre pour l'instant limité de blessés. Christian Estrosi, le ministre de l'Outre-mer, a fait savoir que des hélicoptères de la gendarmerie effectuaient des repérages à la recherche d'éventuelles victimes à la Martinique, et a cité le cas de "six blessés par défénestration". Il a aussi fait état d'"une centaine de malaises" à la Martinique.

http://stormcarib.com/

As you can see there is a part that is in French,but what it is in English above that is that in French.

[TexasStooge]

WOW!! What a rough day for those in the Carribean!!

Luckily, there was no Tsunami.

[lurkey]

Can anyone verify this?? It's from a Chinese news agency

Mexico's Popocatepetl volcano erupts


MEXICO CITY, Dec. 1 (Xinhua) -- Mexico's Popocatepetl volcano on Saturday erupted several times, spewing steam and ash over 2 km high.

The eruption of the volcano, which is located some 70 km southeast to the Mexican capital, started at 6:20 a.m. local time (1220 GMT), and six eruptions occurred in 24 hours, said a statement issued by the National Disaster Prevention Center.

Some ash rained down the capital which can be seen in several streets, said local media. The government advised fewer outdoor activities or wearing gauze mask when going outdoor.

The authorities also said residents in the surrounding areas of the volcano should clean ash from cars and homes as soon as possible to avoid inhaling more ash.

The volcano, whose name is the Aztec word for smoking mountain with a summit elevation of 5,452 meters above sea level, is Mexico's second highest mountain. Its first recorded eruption took place in 1345. In the past 13 years, it has become more active during the month of December.

[angelwing]

4 hours ago
PUEBLA, Mexico (AFP) — Mexico's Popocatepetl volcano spewed ash and steam on Saturday in a giant plume stretching some 3,000 meters (two miles) high, authorities said.
The eruption southeast of Mexico City was "a major explosive event, totally different to those since the year 2000" and related to a rupture of lava inside the volcano's crater, said Ramon Pena, the director of the local government's Plan Operativo Popocatepetl.
The volcanic activity started at 6:20 am (1220 GMT) and officials issued a yellow alert, signaling no immediate risk to the local population.
Ash began falling on Puebla, the closest city to the volcano, a couple of hours after the eruption.
During the past 13 years, the volcano has become more active during the month of December. Last week, a two-kilometer (1.5 mile) trail of smoke rose from the volcano but no ash fell.
In 1994, Mexican army troops restricted access to the volcano for a radius of 12 kilometers (seven miles) after a major eruption. The Popocatepetl volcano is the second highest in Mexico at 5,452 meters (17,887 feet) above sea level.


http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5isI ... DmHh4t8OQA