(CNS): Yesterday’s initial measurement for the earthquake which shook Grand Cayman around 9:20am on Tuesday 19 January, some 32 miles off the coast of Bodden Town, has been increased by the United States Geological Survey. After reviewing the information and measurements, Hazard Management Cayman Islands said the specialist organization has revised the magnitude upwards from 5.8 to a 5.9 magnitude event. The quake reportedly lasted for around 8 seconds and there are still no reports of any structural damage across the island.
The only evidence left behind was the appearance of a major sinkhole in Pirates Lair at South Sound, which was being filled on Tuesday. There were, however, a number of other reports of sinkholes emerging along the shore line and beach in South Sound as well, believed to be as a result of the various caverns and fissures in the rocks underground in that area.
According to HMCI, the earth tremor was not a ‘strong’ event; it was a ‘moderate’ earthquake of very short duration. Director of Hazard Management McCleary Frederick determined that, based on the magnitude and parameters of the event, the likelihoodof structural failures to homes and offices was very small. Some 35 minutes after the event the likelihood of a damaging aftershock was sufficiently low that the risks were effectively in the ‘normal’ or ‘near normal’ probability range and residents were given the all clear to return to offices and homes.
The Cayman Islands are located along an active fault zone, and from time to time earthquakes occur. Unfortunately, these occurrences cannot be predicted, but residents are encouraged to learn what to do before, during and after an earthquake and thereby reduce the risks associated with earthquakes.
In the wake of the event, debate has still continued about earthquake drills over the ‘triangle of life’ theory, which has been discredited by many official agencies. HCMI and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) advocate current best practice which is to "Drop, Cover and Hold on" — duck under a strong piece of furniture, cover your head and hold on until the shaking subsides. HCMI said that Doug Copp’s assertions that everyone is always crushed if they get under something, is incorrect.
Maybe these natural disasters are distributed according to sunshine and other measures of joy instead of linear time.
Then the countries that get hit once every twenty years on average accumulatethe same amount of "beach time" as the Cayman Islands do in one year 🙂
Being situated on a fault line and hurricane prone area may have something to do with it, but occam’s razor is boring.
It amazes me how every news story ends up having conflict. It is either Expat vs. Caymanian OR God vs. Mother Nature. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but is it really necessary to antagonize one another!? The post at 16:01, was completely uneccessary, and only trying to evoke drama. I am agnostic, so don’t really like religion forced down my throat, but I can respect that some people do have deep faith, and won’t criticize them for that. We are extremely lucky (or blessed, depending on how you want to look at it), that the Earthquake didn’t do more damage… we should just be thankful and not be so critical of others’ beliefs. This is a small island, so can’t we all get along!?
Have a great day! 🙂
I imagine in the next 6 months there will be many people that discover they have hairline cracks/mysterious leaks in their swimming pools.
of course there are damages ,many houses have crakes all over. I think people are so graeful they just dont complain about it. I personally know people who’s houses got cracks. My house is a prime example, quite a few cracks I just have to figure out how bad it is and I thank god this was all. Let Jesus king of Kings be praised.
cracks or crackheads?
I knew it! felt lot more like a 5.9 than a 5.8 to me…
Man, that could be turned into a swiming pool. Half the work is done already, just slab it and add water 😉
We should just be ahppy, things weren’t worst than what they are.
what about praying ? That should work right ?
…. get over it?
God knows this little Island is very bless! Caymanian people are good people when it comes to giving and respecting others and he knows that too. The only thing wrong with Caymanians is that they love to talk about people and they love too much news lol. If we could all work on those differences maybe he wont send us any warnings.
Yeah I agree and we fight with each other too much but we are a giving nation and we do respect others…
you do respect others??? i take it this was a joke? Gays on the cruise ship? Expats? other religions? Jamaicans? what are you talking about? Caymanians on the whole are not exactly a loving and welcoming nation. No wonder god keeps sending these disasters our way.
Cayman is hardly blessed, its been hit by a cat 5 hurricane and 2 earthquakes in the last 5 years! i should think 80% of the countries on the planet have had fewer natural disasters than that! We are in the bottom 20% of countries loved by ‘god’ – even countries with not a single christian in them have had more luck than Cayman.
Makes you wonder whether we are praying to the wrong god?
That is the definition of ingratitude. You should be thankful that we are still alive, that these Islands recovered. Why take an arbitrary 5 year period? You don’t know what will happen this year or the next.