WITH two devastating earthquakes in Ecuador and Japan last week, local seismologist Dr Joan Latchman is reminding citizens that they need to prepare for the inevitable “Big One” in the Caribbean.
Latchman said that the Eastern Caribbean has not seen a large earthquake since 1843 and people should be prepared for its occurrence.
Regarding the recent tremors, Latchman said: “The current global seismicity does again appear to be signalling the imminence of an earthquake or earthquakes of magnitude greater than 8.5 in the short term. The imbalance in magnitude output currently being manifested is very reminiscent of that seen in 2004.”
In 2004, an earthquake with a magnitude of 9.1 to 9.3 off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia triggered a tsunami, killing an estimated 300,000 people from 14 countries. According to Latchman, the Eastern Caribbean has a holding pattern of quakes from magnitude 7 to 7.9, every 20 to 30 years.
She said that this pattern has stayed true.
Latchman previously said that the time, date and magnitude of such an event cannot be predicted, but can warn for the next event in these patterns.
“It should be noted that earthquakes in the magnitude range 8.1-8.5 occur, somewhere in the world, on average every 12-18 months, so one in that magnitude range would be within the normal pattern. Several in that range would indeed be unusual,”said Latchman.
She said, “A great earthquake is overdue. Because of that and because of the nature of the seismic hazard, long-term preparation was required. We need to build the kind of buildings that can withstand that kind of shaking.”
A 7.8 magnitude earthquake struck in Ecuador on Saturday killing more than 350 people and injuring over 2,000.
In Japan, a 6.5 earthquake occurred last Thursday, and two days later, a 7.3 magnitude quake was recorded.
The death toll is over 40 and rising with over 2,000 injured and many families displaced.
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