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T&T’s high alert continues.
This following a magnitude 6 aftershock earthquake yesterday, damage reports from all over the country and more reports expected - but no injuries or fatalities, all in the wake of Tuesday’s huge earthquake that measured 6.9 on the Richter scale.
T&T’s Seismic Research Centre confirmed yesterday’s after-shock which occurred at 9.27 am. It was initially assessed at 5.9 but was later reassessed as 6. The epicentre was the same as Tuesday’s earthquake - the Gulf of Paria peninsula. The SRC stated the after-shock was felt up to St Vincent and Guyana at a depth of 80 kilometres. Investigations are ongoing to see if tremors were becoming shallower, which could pose more risk. (See page A7)
Yesterday’s after-shock sent workers in downtown Port-of-Spain scampering out of offices. Several business places and Government agencies later closed to assess the damage.
The Local Government Ministry, which collected reports of damage via the 14 municipal corporations, yesterday confirmed reports from over 30 locations - but no injuries or deaths. The ministry noted volcanic activity at the Devil’s Woodyard mud volcano in South Trinidad - but no eruption. Following yesterday’s aftershock, all corporations continued receiving reports of power outages and structural damage, the ministry added.
At yesterday’s post-Cabinet media briefing, Communication Minister Stuart Young said he expected more reports of damage between yesterday and tomorrow. Cabinet members felt yesterday’s after-shock during their meeting.
He added,”With these types of incidents, we expect some after-shocks. It’s impossible to scientifically predict what will happen next when after-shocks will occur, or if there’ll be a further earthquake. But the state’s apparatus and National Security arms are in place.”
Young said he’d received photos of damage to homes.
“We thank God at this stage there’s no report of fatality or serious injury. I hope it stays that way. We’re also thankful the situation didn’t warrant a call for a nationwide shutdown.”
Yesterday’s after-shock caused power outages at Pt Cumana and Westmoorings, near the earthquake’s epicentre. Power was restored by 11 am.
Udecott chairman Noel Garcia, whose engineers inspected various structures, said the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception and Trinity Cathedral sustained serious structural damage.
“We’ve recommended they hire someone to do a dilapidation survey to ensure they’re safe. Tonight (Wednesday) we’re moving pieces of the structure at the Cathedral which are threatening to fall on the public and (on Thursday) we’ll move such pieces from Trinity. The repair costs will run into a big sum,” Garcia said.
Garcia said there was no major structural damage to the National Academy for the Performing Arts North (NAPA) or South (SAPA) facilities, the Waterfront Plaza or the Government Campus. Udecott also signed off on the Couva Hospital and Brian Lara Stadium as not sustaining structural damage. He said the Education Tower on St Vincent Street had only mortar damage (cracks to windows.) The Tower, which was closed yesterday, re-opens today after infrastructural assessment, repairs and cleaning.
Works Minister Rohan Sinanan said ministry teams had inspected over 35 Government buildings so far and found no serious structural damage. Road and bridge networks have also so far shown no damage, save for one South Trinidad road, he added.
Yesterday, repair crews were busy with several structures in downtown PoS, inspecting or securing parts of buildings that require repairs. A large jagged crack has split part of the front of the former Sports Ministry office on Abercromby Street. Personnel at Queen’s Park Cricket Club were also seen photographing hairline cracks there.
Young said while T&T lacks formal building codes, the structural integrity of buildings held up. However, he said Government will look at implementing building codes. Government buildings are built to the California (US) building codes, he noted.
Young urged high-rise building residents - and private landlords of state agencies - to get private engineering inspection of their buildings’ stability, following which it could be inspected by Works. He agreed if earthquake tremors were shallower, they might have had more effects.
Damage to houses, jetties at ‘Epicentre’
Among the most chilling impacts of Tuesday’s earthquake was a video of the tip of Centipede Island breaking off and falling into the sea, with a huge splash which sent water up into the air. Down the Islands residents near the ‘quake’s epicentre yesterday confirmed damage to properties.
Robert Tardieu, navigator of Great Race speedboat White Heat lives on Monos Island.
He said, “There’s a lot of structural damage, everything fell off shelves, walls and counters during the earthquake. We had no current for nine hours and were isolated. But people who have homes on the island haven’t been down here to assess properties.”
His brother Derick Tardieu, who owns Tardieu Marina in Chaguaramas, said the jetty and other parts of the facility were damaged.
Also heavily traumatised were some southern construction workers who were on cranes when Tuesday’s earthquake hit and had their crane swaying shakily from side to side, causing them to yell in fear.
Communications Minister Stuart Young yesterday said Centipede Island wasn’t high on the list of priorities since it’s uninhabited, but the Coast Guard is patrolling the area. The situation in Tobago, where Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley will stage a Conversation with the PM this evening, seemed alright, he added.’