5.4 Magnitude Earthquake Shakes Jamaica, No Injuries Reported

Jamaica was rocked by a 5.4 magnitude earthquake this morning that sent people scrambling for safety. Just after 11 o’clock, the island nation experienced a quake that occurred a few miles off its coast. There aren’t any reports of injuries or serious damage, but the frightening ordeal interrupted the day for thousands on the island. Belize’s Senator for the Methodist Church, Alvin “Moses” Benguche, is there visiting his family and says he was in the street when the ground began shaking. Benguche says since then the country has experienced aftershocks but there is a sense of calm among residents. 

Bishop Alvin Benguche, The Methodist Bishop: “I was coming from an appointment and I was heading into the area that is called Harbour View, that area is in Kingston itself but on the periphery of Kingston actually bordering the area of Port Royal and if anybody knows the history of Port Royal you would know that that was where the first official city of Jamaica was located and then it sank in an earthquake I think during either the 17th or the 18th century I hope I have my history right. And so I was heading in that direction and I was visiting with friends and low and behold as I was about to get back into my car I felt this impact on my vehicle as if though someone had slammed into my vehicle and within seconds immediately after that I felt as if though the car was lifting up and even though I did not put the key in the ignition I felt that the car was taking off down hill because what happens here in Jamaica and especially here in Kingston some places are a bit hilly. And so I felt that the car was going down the hill and within seconds that heavy tremor started and that was I think is what is now being determined as the 5.6 and since then we have had some aftershocks. The situation at this moment is calm. I know that the Prime Minister is expected to speak to the nation a little bit later today at about 5PM Jamaica time to assure the nation.”

Belizean, Hasani CJ Martinez, a student at the University of the West Indies Mona Campus, says the natural disaster resulted in the cancelation of his classes for the day. Martinez spoke to Love News about the terrifying experience and the moments after.

“It’s not something that we’re used to in Belize. We’re used to tremors. It was a 5.3 magnitude earthquake. There’s the plan, you know in Belize we plan to go and buy stuff, buy canned food and all that to prepare for hurricanes while here you need to drop, cover and go down in the circumstance of an earthquake. I saw my room start shaking very hard so it’s something that I wasn’t expecting and I heard the sounds of the sirens and it was a very surprising experience for me in regards to what an earthquake really feels like. We actually have a group chat here in Belize, we have the BELJAM Group, the Association with Belizeans and Jamaicans whereby we communicate to check on each other. We made sure each other was safe, we tried to see who may need help and told everyone to communicate with their families to make sure that everything is okay because you know news spreads very fast. That’s how you got in touch with me so yeah we checked on each other. I noticed the university they have a proper plan whereby they send everyone a message who is a part of the University of West Indies Mona UWI you know ? So it was a very, I’m still a little shaken because it’s something that I’m not used to. Most Belizeans are not used to experiencing such an earthquake we’re just used to getting a tremor right ? But it’s an experience right ? It’s not an experience you’re looking for to come to a country to experience an earthquake but it’s an experience regardless.”

Martinez says the over twenty Belizeans studying in Jamaica have all indicated that they are safe.