Earthquake shakes Cayman

(CNS): Updated with full story 12:30. Although only a couple of seconds long, the earthquake which hit Grand Cayman 32 miles south of Bodden Town a little after 9:20am this morning (19 January) has shaken up the community. According to Hazard Management, the quake registered a 5.8 magnitude and was just over 6 miles deep. The earthquake comes days after the massive earthquake hit Haiti last week and more than five years since Cayman’s last major tremor in December 2004. Police said there were no reports of injury or damage to persons or property but are asking people to keep away from the sink hole in South Sound. (Photo by Simon Barwick - People pour from offices in Cricket Square as the earth shakes.)

All public buildings remain open, including the schools, but some private schools have told parents they may collect their children if they wish. While there has been no damage to property or people, Hazzard Maangement has confirmed that a sink hole has opened up in the Pirates Liar area of South Sound, a phenomena often associated with earthquakes.

Police said over 50 sightseers have now converged on the location and that number is rising very quickly. Superintendent Adrian Seales appealed for people to stay clear of the area. “We have police officers on the scene and efforts are being made to fence the sink hole off at present," he said. "However, the rising numbers of people converging on the area is causing us some concern. The roads are becoming congested and until the location is secured, and a safety assessment completed, we would not condone anyone going near to the property. I know people are curious – it’s a natural instinct – but I would urge people not to let their curiosity get the better of their common sense. Our colleagues from Hazard Management are at the location and are assessing the situation. I’m urging people to stay away from the area at present,” Seales added.

The Cayman Islands Emergency Communications Centre (CIEC911) reported receiving more than one hundred 911 telephone calls in the minutes following the earthquake. “There were no injuries and no reports of damage from the quake,” the 911 operators said, and the centre was in immediate contact with the Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre in Hawaii, which handles the Caribbean region, and was assured by the scientist on duty that there was no threat of a tsunami from this earthquake.

Emergency Communications Centre Manager Brent Finster said most of the calls were from people trying to find out what had happened: “911 calls received after the earthquake struck mostly dealt with people wanting to find out if an earthquake had really occurred or to notify us that they had evacuated their building and whether it was safe to go back inside. There were also a number of 911 calls regarding problems with telephone service,” he explained. Finster also reminded the public that the 911 emergency system should only be used by persons who need police, fire or Emergency Medical Services.

 The earthquake measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale occurred 32 miles south of Bodden Town, Grand Cayman at coordinates 19.021 N, 80 deg 50.77 min W at a depth of 6.2 miles. At 10 am, the Director of Hazard Management Cayman Islands, McCleary Frederick said residents were able to return to offices and homes.

“Obviously in light of what has happened in Haiti, our residents are very sensitive to this type of occurrence,” McCleary stated. “We are fortunate that the Cayman Islands appears to have come through unscathed, but it is reminder for everyone that they need to know how to respond during an earthquake. In particular it is important to duck under a strong piece of furniture, or at least protect the head with arms.”

 He reminded business organizations, schools or other entities that the HMCI can perform an earthquake education session or drill to better prepare for them for this type of impact.

Shortly after the tremor the premier, McKeeva Bush called into the Rooster morning phone in show, Crosstalk, from Miami and said there was no need to contact the international press about the event. However, the quake had already been registered on the USG website and was picked in by the US media and CNN by around 10am.

The Cayman Islands Government has commissioned a seismic monitoring network, consisting of four state-of-the-art seismograph stations. Two seismographs will be located in Grand Cayman, one in Little Cayman and another on the Island of Cayman Brac. One of these seismographs in Frank Sound is already fully functional and the earthquake was detected locally and the information relayed through to HMCI as expected.

McCleary noted that earthquakes do occur from time to time in the vicinity of the Cayman Islands as the islands are located near to the boundary of the North American plate, with the Caribbean plate sliding past to the south.  Although this is located near the same boundary of the North American plate that caused the recent earthquake in Haiti it is not along the same fault line. In December 2004 a 6.8 magnitude earthquake occurred 20 miles to the south of Grand Cayman.

Since the formation of HMCI in 2006, the agency has embarked on a proactive public education campaign to raise awareness of the earthquake threat in the Cayman Islands. Earthquake drills have been conducted involving both private and public sector entities and the program has also been instituted in Government schools.

During this brief earth tremor there were also reports of some considerable fear in government schools and officials confirmed that teachers and other staff on site, along with RCIPS officers, are doing everything possible to maintain calm following reports of children fleeing from the school site at John Gray and literally jumping over the perimeter fences.

Chief Education Officer Shirley Wahler said the schools remain open and have received the all clear from Hazard Management Cayman Islands to re-enter buildings. Department of Education facilities officers will continue conducting in-depth evaluations regarding building integrity throughout today. Ministry officials also confirmed that all pre-schools, except Kid’s Adventure which closes at noon, will remain open today. Pre-schools have been contacted and officials confirm that all is well. However, parents wishing to collect their children may do so.

Aside from reports of the odd broken window there appears to be no structural damage as a result of Grand Cayman’s latest shake up but public works has said it will make building checks. Officials from the department said the potential for significant structural or system damages as a result of the event was not considered a severe threat to well-constructed government buildings. “However, PWD recommend that each site be given a careful walk-through to inspect for new or expanded cracks in walls, cracked glass in doors and windows, and any changes in appearances of ceilings,” officials added.

If any concerns are noted the PWD is taking calls on the HelpDesk at 244.4838 or 916.6694 and will dispatch crews as available.

Anyone wanting more information regarding earthquakes can contact Simon Boxall or Omar Afflick at HMCI on 526 2027

earthquake.usgs.gov