Strong Earthquake Shakes Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic
Above: a map of the quake (graphic: United States Geological Survey)
By the Caribbean Journal staff
The recent string of strong earthquakes in the Caribbean is continuing.
The latest was a 5.8-magnitude quake in the Mona Passage between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic with an epicentre about 50 kilometres south of Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic at around 4:15 PM local time on Wednesday afternoon.
The quake caused reports of some of the strongest shaking in the Caribbean in almost four years, focused in the eastern portion of the Dominican Republic and the northwestern portion of Puerto Rico.
Reports of shaken buildings came from across both countries, although there was no warning of a tsunami and there were no reports of injuries resulting from the quake.
The quake was felt across the northeastern Caribbean, with reports of shaking in St Maarten, St Croix, St John, St Thomas and the British Virgin Islands.
The executive director of Puerto Rico’s State Agency for Emergency Management and Disaster Administration said there were no reports of emergency situations resulting from the quake.
A group of buildings was evacuated in the Dominican Republic’s capital, according to reports.
“We ask everyone to keep calm and exercise the ‘crouch, cover and hold’ in case of an earthquake,” the director said in a statement. “Also, keep a backpack ready with everything you need for any emergency.”
It was the latest strong earthquake in the region, following a 6.0-magnitude quake that rattled the region on May 16.
Puerto Rico was shaken by a 6.5-magnitude quake in January.
Updated: May 28, 2014 at 11:27 PM.
