BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - FOR what seemed like almost a lifetime, people across Barbados and surrounding islands were literally shaken out of their sleep this morning (Feb. 18) by an earthquake.
According t the U. S. Geological Survey, the 6.5 magnitude quake rattled just northeast of Barbados at 5:27am local time.
A report in the Barbados Today, explains that residents in several parts of Barbados - including the north and east of the island - were literally shaken out of their sleep this morning, as a tremor affected the island.
The last earthquake tremors recorded for Barbados - as indicated by the University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre - occurred on December 15 and 16, 2013.
Caribbean 360 reported that Director of the Department of Emergency Judy Thomas stated in a broadcast that the chances of a tsunami developing following this morning’s earthquake were highly unlikely and urged residents not to panic.
“We’ve been talking about global earthquakes which give us very little warning and...by now we should be getting some sign on the coast…And we can’t confirm those signs and I would think that the question of a tsunami is not immediate.
"Thomas also warned that the Seismic Research Unit in Trinidad had been saying that the region was due for a big disaster ever since the massive earthquake in Haiti in 2010.Meanwhile, it has been reported that the Barbados exchange students studying in Martinique - where the earthquake was also felt - are safe," the media house reported.
It further informed that "Nicholas Vaughan, a teacher and head of the Combermere Foreign Language Club reported that the 25 students and chaperons on the trip to Martinique were well. He said the tremor was felt there around 5:25 a.m. and lasted about 55 seconds. The students from first to sixth form were in bed at the time of the tremor".
SKNVibes understands that tremors were also experienced in Dominica and St. Lucia although they might not have been as severe as that experienced in Barbados.
This publication also understands that there have been no reports of casualties or major damage.
