Strong 6.0 and 5.5 earthquakes shake Southern Caribbean

[tropicana]

Trying to get information on a reported 5.5 or 6.0 earthquake that has shaken Southern Caribbean this morning, reportedly felt strongly in Trinidad... has knocked out power to some parts of the island.
Some damage reported.

[CajunMama]

There was a 6.0 along the Venezuela coast at 8:08 am CDT today. This must be the one you heard about because it occurred 25 miles nw of Port of Spain, Trinidad

http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/rec ... ustfa2.php

[tropicana]

Thanks Cajun..yes that was the one.

Power outages reported on Trinidad. Delays at Piarco International Airport (TTPP).. cracks on the building walls of the airport. Tiles fell off some of the ceiling areas.
Major shopping mall (Trincity Mall)in the Central part of the island experienced shattered glass in some stores.
Some schools were evacuated, fearing aftershocks.

[Stephanie]

Wow! When was the last time they had one that strong down there? I hope noone was injured/killed.

[tropicana]

Trinidad Earthquake History

21 Oct 1766 7.9 The then capital San Jose destroyed
4 Dec 1954 6.5 One death, several injured
10 Mar 1983 5.8 Several injured.
March 1988 6.2 East Coast Trinidad swarm of quakes
2 Apr 1997 5.6 One house destroyed, several damaged
22 Apr 1997 5.9 Over $18M TT in damages

These were the ones directly under the island.

Trinidad has a Seismic research unit located on the island..this is their report....
Earthquake off north coast of Trinidad
29/09/06

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 location for the event is 10.83°N 61.41°W. This event was reported as widely felt throughout Trinidad, Tobago, Venezuela and St. Vincent. Thus far 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. Our instruments are closer to the epicentre 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.

[Stephanie]

Thanks for that history lesson!

[tropicana]

ANOTHER QUAKE SHAKES TRINIDAD

Fri Sep 29 2:30pm
EARTHQUAKE AFTERSHOCK SENDS WORKERS SCURRYING HOME

SECOND ONE MEASURES 5.5 on richter scale

10.79N 61.87W
Occurence at 2:23pm

DEpth 56miles

Centered offshore Sucre Venezuela

40 miles WNW of Port of Spain
35 miles ENE of Guiria, Venezuela
80 miles WSW of Scarborough Tobago
90 miles south of st georges, Grenada

[Stephanie]

That's a heck of an aftershock!

[TexasStooge]