A 4.7 magnitude earthquake struck near the north coast of Trinidad on Sunday night, startling some members of the public who felt the tremors throughout the island.
Tobago did not report any tremors. The quake occurred at 9.01 p.m., according to the University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre.
The UWI centre said the quake was felt from Carenage to Moruga and Matura.
The centre's website said the event was located at 10.714 degrees north and 61.404 degrees west with a depth of 40.08 kilometres.
Some members of the public who called the Express yesterday recalled hearing a rumbling just before the quake struck. The quake, some of them suggested, lasted a mere three to four seconds.
Meanwhile, the Office of Disaster Preparedness and management (ODPM), in a release yesterday, said that in light of the quake it has put first responder agencies on alert to render assistance in the event of aftershocks.
The ODPM said while no damage or injury was reported, the Disaster Management Units in the various municipal corporations will continue to perform damage assessments throughout the country with assistance from the ODPM as necessary.
The ODPM also reminded citizens to stay calm, alert and cautious and to check houses and surroundings for any damage. Citizens who have been affected may contact their municipal corporation or the ODPM at 800-6376.
