Current:Home > Scams'Remain calm:' Jamaica prime minister urges citizens to follow safety guidance after quake-LoTradeCoin
'Remain calm:' Jamaica prime minister urges citizens to follow safety guidance after quake
View Date:2025-01-11 14:44:08
Jamaica was rocked Monday by a 5.4 magnitude earthquake that shook buildings and sent people fleeing for cover.
The earthquake struck near Hope Bay, a small settlement on the Caribbean island nation, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS.) No casualties or any serious damage have been reported after the quake, which the USGS said occurred at a depth of six miles.
Are earthquakes happening more?What to know if you're worried and how to stay safe
Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Holness said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, that the island's officials are "taking all precautions and all the necessary protocols have been activated." While electricity and communications were briefly disrupted, Holness said in a video on X that most were restored and airports remained open.
"We implore citizens to remain calm and follow all the protocols regarding earthquakes and general safety," Holness said in the post.
Large earthquakes rare in Jamaica
While Jamaica experiences about 200 earthquakes a year, the Associated Press reported that larger earthquakes are a rare occurrence on the island nation, which the U.S. Geological Survey says shares a fault line with Haiti and the Dominican Republic.
In the United States, the risk that Americans may experience an earthquake has been growing as the number of buildings being constructed in "high earthquake hazard areas" continues to increase, the Federal Emergency Management Agency said in a report earlier this year.
Santa Ana winds:Crews battle brush fires in Southern California
Eric Lagatta covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at [email protected]
veryGood! (164)
Related
- How Ben Affleck Really Feels About His and Jennifer Lopez’s Movie Gigli Today
- JetBlue pilot says he took off quickly to avoid head-on crash with incoming plane: I hope you don't hit us
- Black child, 10, sentenced to probation and a book report for urinating in public
- Why more women live in major East Coast counties while men outnumber them in the West
- Black and Latino families displaced from Palm Springs neighborhood reach $27M tentative settlement
- 'Wonka' is a candy-coated prequel
- As Financial Turmoil Threatens Plans for an Alabama Wood Pellet Plant, Advocates Question Its Climate and Community Benefits
- Top Polish leaders celebrate Hanukkah in parliament after antisemitic incident
- Burger King is giving away a million Whoppers for $1: Here's how to get one
- Justin Timberlake Says He Means “No Disrespect” Singing “Cry Me a River”
Ranking
- 'Underbanked' households more likely to own crypto, FDIC report says
- Gunmen kill 11 people, injure several others in an attack on a police station in Iran, state TV says
- Tesla car recalls 2023: Check the full list of vehicle models recalled this year
- Justin Timberlake Says He Means “No Disrespect” Singing “Cry Me a River”
- 2025 NFL Draft order: Updated first round picks after Week 10 games
- South Carolina’s 76-year-old governor McMaster to undergo procedure to fix minor irregular heartbeat
- North Carolina Gov. Cooper says Medicaid expansion and other investments made 2023 a big year
- How will college football's postseason unfold? Our expert picks for all 41 bowl games.
Recommendation
-
Stressing over Election Day? Try these apps and tools to calm your nerves
-
Biden. Rolling Stones. Harrison Ford. Why older workers are just saying no to retirement
-
Pandemic relief funding for the arts was 'staggering'
-
How will college football's postseason unfold? Our expert picks for all 41 bowl games.
-
Suspect arrested after deadly Tuskegee University homecoming shooting
-
Woman missing for 4 days found alive in Idaho canyon thanks to tip from civilians: Truly a miracle
-
Coca-Cola recalled 2,000 Diet Coke, Sprite, Fanta cases due to possible contamination
-
'Curb Your Enthusiasm' final season, premiere date announced by HBO