DID YOU FEEL THE MIDNIGHT EARTHQUAKE?

St. Lucia experienced a 5.0 earthquake just after midnight on Sunday August 7. The epicenter was some 35 miles off the coast of La Paradi.

An earthquake with a magnitude of 5.0 is in the moderate category. That means it is “often felt, but only causes minor damage”. They happen at about 30,000 times a year.

MAP SHOWING EPICENTRE OF EARTHQUAKE

An earthquake between 5.5 to 6.0 would have caused slight damage to buildings and other structures. For an earthquake to be considered “major” and cause serious damage, its magnitude would have to be between 7.0 to 7.9’

 An earthquake of 8.0 or greater is categorized as a “great earthquake” and it can cause total destruction of communities near the epicenter.

Here are the details of the earthquake:

Magnitude: 5.0

Date-Time: Sunday, August 07, 2011 at 12:01:11 AM at epicenter

Location: 13.843°N, 60.309°W

Depth: 38 km (23.6 miles)

Region: SAINT LUCIA REGION, WINDWARD ISLANDS

Distances:

72 km (44 miles) ESE of CASTRIES, St. Lucia
113 km (70 miles) NW of BRIDGETOWN, Barbados