Jamaica and Earthquakes

The Government of Jamaica funds the Earthquake Unit (EQU). The EQU is a Research Unit of the Department of Geology and Geography in the Faculty of Science and Technology at the Mona Campus of the University of the West Indies. 

The EQU serves as Jamaica's hub for earthquake monitoring and research. The central Recording station at The University of The West Indies, Mona operates the Jamaica Seismograph Network (JSN), the Jamaica Strong Motion Network (JSMN) and a Global Positioning System network, which together measure a range of crustal movements weak and strong coseismic displacements to very small aseismic strains.

About 200 earthquakes are located in and around Jamaica per year most of which are minor, having magnitudes less than 4.0.

Jamaica itself is traversed by a number of geological faults.

Presently the Jamaica Seismograph Network consists of twelve permanent short-period seismograph station.

1 According to the Earthquake United the University of the West Indies, about 200 earthquakes are located in and around Jamaica per year most of which are minor, having magnitudes less than 4.0.

2 The dates of Jamaica’s most damaging earthquakes were: 1667, March 1, 1688, June 7, 1692, September 3, 1771, November 11, 1812, April 10, 1824, November 5, 1839, January 14, 1907, August 3, 1914, July 5, 1943, March 1, 1957, January 13, 1993, June 12, 2005. 

3 The largest and most damaging natural disaster in Jamaica was the famous Port Royal earthquake of June 7, 1692. It was felt island-wide and a part of Port Royal sank into the sea.  It was reported that at least 2,000 persons died as a result of an outbreak of yellow fever, which developed after the quake.

4 On January 14, 1907, the city of Kingston was severely damaged by an earthquake. It was reported that over 1,000 people died mostly in the fires following the main shock and after-shocks. After-shocks continued for the rest of the year.

5 The largest event after 1907 was on March 1, 1957.  Buildings and infrastructure in Western Jamaica suffered the most damage and a bit of the Port Royal coast sank into the sea.

Jamaica, with parts of Cuba and Hispaniola showing relevant plate boundaries 

red dots represent past epicenters 

sources: http://www.mona.uwi.edu/earthquake/index.php

http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/letters/Are-we-ready-for-an-earthquake-_18840714