Is the Caribbean at Risk of Increased Earthquakes?

Today’s earthquake was preceded by magnitudes six point four and five point eight quakes that struck Puerto Rico. That territory experienced a number of aftershocks and experienced significant damage. Earlier this month the UWI Seismic Research Center in Trinidad said that recent earthquakes that rocked Puerto serve as a reminder that the region must always be prepared. It said that the quakes show that the region is active in terms of such natural geological hazards. According to the US Geological Survey, since December twenty-eight, more than five hundred earthquakes of magnitude two or greater have rattled the area. In recent online articles, experts have warned that there is more to come. National Coordinator Shelton DeFour says that there have been increased activities and Belize just needs to be prepared for any increase wave action or tremors to be experienced as a result.

On the Phone: Shelton DeFour, National Coordinator, NEMO

“I have apps and I have direct links to different agencies, as the national emergency coordinator, I see dozens of earthquakes happening south of Mexico in the Pacific area everyday; off the coast of Guatemala; off the coast of El Salvador; on the coast lines of Salvador and Guatemala; a few in the Caribbean. We see about two hundred to three hundred earthquakes happening around the world because the plates are in constant motion – they are always moving. So, based on what we are seeing, it is anticipated that indeed the fault lines could be moving in terms of the plates, so there will be more earthquakes, more tremors but we have to be prepared for that. It is one of the hardest things to predict because the science is not really out on it to see if they can one hundred percent predict that an earthquake will happen here at certain time. So, they are forecasting. So, we are anticipating that indeed we could expect more tremors in and around Belize and we have to be prepared.”