Guyanese react to Tuesday’s tremor
─ knowing ‘Dos and Don’ts’ essential during such incident
DPI, Guyana, Wednesday, August 22, 2018
On Tuesday at around 17:30hrs, a magnitude 7.3 earthquake shook the coast of Venezuela, sending shock waves as far west as Bogotá, Colombia, and as far east as Trinidad and Tobago.
The quake was struck 12 miles northwest of Yaguaraparo, Venezuela and was also felt strongly in much of the eastern Caribbean. Tremors were felt in Grenada, Barbados, St. Lucia and here in Guyana. Guyanese were “stunned” by the tremor as many residents reported feeling their homes, offices or place of work shake.
Ethelene McGarrel, a vendor at the Bourda Market told the Department of Public Information (DPI) that “the tremor was a bit little scary but I believe in God and I was not afraid of it.”
Alfred Mack was at his place of work when the incident occurred. “Well, I was not so scared because I remember it was not so long ago since the last tremor was felt here. When I realize something was not right, I went outside to see what is really going on. But otherwise, than that, I said it could be the weather or it could be a sign of the times or it could be God but otherwise than that I am just prepared for when it will come,” Mack stated.
“Yesterday afternoon, sitting down in front of my stall over there, my daughter turned and said look, the road is shaking and when she that, I realized I was moving on the bench and then the wires were shaking all over,” recalled Anita Goring, a vendor.
Cleveland Texeira said that he was with a friend walking on the street when the incident occurred. Texeira was not afraid to admit that he was scared when he felt the ground shaking. “I was a little scared because you feel the earth trembling; we just stood there and after a while, it died off. Then I called and found they felt the tremors in Linden too.”
Tuesday’s earthquake is said to be the strongest to occur in this part of the Caribbean since a magnitude 7.4 earthquake shook the islands of Martinique on November 29, 2017. However, according to the regional authorities and the Civil Defence Commission (CDC), there has been no report of damage or injury across the ten administrative regions of Guyana.
There are a number of steps that can be taken to remain safe during a tremor or an earthquake.
Click on the link to read more on the steps that can be taken: https://dpi.gov.gy/what-to-do-in-an-event-of-an-earthquake/
Preparation is the key and following these steps can keep you and your loved ones safe.
Isaiah Braithwaite and Syneika Thorne
Images: Ackeem Thomas