A second earthquake was just recently recorded in Jamaica, follows a 3.5 magnitude quake, which was felt at its epicentre, in St. Andrew, on the island, two days earlier.
The 5.3 magnitude quake was felt in Mavis Bank, in the parish, whilst other islands, including St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Lucia and Barbados, were also impacted - according to the Earthquake Unit. The 3.5 quake, which was felt two days earlier, rattled Dominica, St. Lucia and Martinique.
Jamaica’s Minister of Local Government and Community, Development Desmond McKenzie, had urging people to be extremely cautious and be constantly prepared for natural disasters, especially earthquakes. He said that the increased frequency of earthquakes that have been felt in Jamaica over the last 10 months is alarming and should be cause for concern.
Dr. Parris Lyew-Ayee Jr., chair at the Scientific Research Council, reassure the public, at the time, that there was no need to panic over tremors across the Caribbean. "You can't predict an earthquake,” he said.
“It can happen anytime. But we should be grateful that we're having these small ones, and not a big, massive, powerful thing."
Mr. McKenzie went on to say: “God has been good, but He helps those who help themselves.
“I want the country to be mindful that earthquakes do not set up like rain – there’s no early warning system.
“We sit right in that fault line of earthquakes and, further, Jamaica is one of the top-tier countries when it comes on to disaster. Over the past 4-5 months, we have experienced more than 577 felt earthquakes - ranging from a magnitude of 3.4.
“On Tuesday, we registered a 4.5 magnitude quake, and last Friday a 5.3 magnitude. So, as a country, we must focus greater attention on what can happen in the twinkling of an eye.
“As the restoration efforts continue in St Elizabeth and Clarendon - post-Hurricane Beryl – Jamaicans must be mindful that all it takes is one more major weather system to set us back again.
