Editorial | Earthquakes and tsunamis | comment

It is likely, at best, to have made only a small mark in the memory of most Jamaicans: that day was the twentieth anniversary of the Indian Ocean tsunami.

January 14 marks the 118th anniversary of the Great Kingston Earthquake.

Although the two events were oceanic, separated by nearly a century, they are closely related to Jamaica, as examples of the destructive force of nature that can occur here – and in tandem.

There are also reminders of why Jamaica must prepare vigorously for natural disasters, including, as this newspaper has consistently called for, aggressively promoting earthquake awareness. The possibility of a tsunami following a large earthquake, which has happened before in relation to Jamaica.

The 2004 Boxing Day tsunami was followed by a 9.3-magnitude earthquake — this typically occurs when tectonic plates converge and seismic activity pushes against each other — off the west coast of the Indonesian island of Sumatra.

The large displacement of water from this event resulted in a huge tsunami that struck several countries in the region, including Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand and the Maldives. The tsunami, with waves reaching 167 feet high, caused massive devastation in coastal areas, killing nearly 230,000 people in a dozen countries, although some estimates put the number closer to 250,000. The bulk of the casualties were in Aceh Province in Sumatra, where the death toll reached about 200,000.

The 2004 tsunami was one of the greatest natural disasters in recorded history, and perhaps the largest so far this century.

Hugely destructive

The devastation and deaths caused by the 1907 Jamaica earthquake may not have been as severe as the Indian Ocean tsunami, but there is no doubt about the devastation it left behind, much of it in the capital. And its impact on people's lives.

The 6.2-magnitude earthquake caused hundreds of buildings to collapse, followed by fires that swept through most parts of the city. The death toll was 1,200, about 2.5 percent of the city's population at the time.

The earthquake also caused a tsunami, although not destructive, on the northern shore of the island.

The Great Kingston Earthquake was not the only devastating seismic event Jamaica has ever faced. Two hundred and fifteen years ago, an earthquake estimated at magnitude 7 caused part of Port Royal to sink into the sea. Up to 2,000 people died in this event in 1692.

Since then, the island has experienced periodic tremors, including a 5.6-magnitude tremor 14 months ago that caused widespread panic across the island. While Jamaica appears to have consistently dodged the bullet, experts warn that a “major disaster” is inevitable.

“It could be in the very near future, or it could be years, decades away,” Simon Mitchell, professor of sedimentary geology at the University of the West Indies (UWI), said last August. Following a strong earthquake.

Urgent priority

Jamaica and some of its neighbors in the northern Caribbean Sea straddle two small tectonic plates that, along with other plates in the vicinity, are exposed to blows from the North American and South American plates.

“The westward slide of the North American plate, and our inability to bypass it, has led to escalating tectonic stress in our geological provinces,” geologist Shaunelle Dwyer explained in a 2023 newspaper article.

The risks are clear. But there are also many other potential sources of earthquakes and tsunamis. This should make earthquake and tsunami planning an essential part of Jamaica's disaster preparedness programme, and should be heard about as much as hurricanes and floods.

In 2021, the government has already announced that the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management has developed a tsunami plan. However, it would not be unfair to say that few Jamaicans would know what to do, or where to go, if a tsunami warning was issued, or even how such a warning would be issued. We can even say that it is a safe bet.

Therefore, a tsunami warning is likely to lead to panic and chaos.

So, while earthquake and tsunami resilience planning and regulation should be accelerated (including strengthening coastal defences), public education on these matters must be an urgent priority.

What Are The Main Benefits Of Comparing Car Insurance Quotes Online

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 24, 2020, / Compare-autoinsurance.Org has launched a new blog post that presents the main benefits of comparing multiple car insurance quotes. For more info and free online quotes, please visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/the-advantages-of-comparing-prices-with-car-insurance-quotes-online/ The modern society has numerous technological advantages. One important advantage is the speed at which information is sent and received. With the help of the internet, the shopping habits of many persons have drastically changed. The car insurance industry hasn't remained untouched by these changes. On the internet, drivers can compare insurance prices and find out which sellers have the best offers. View photos The advantages of comparing online car insurance quotes are the following: Online quotes can be obtained from anywhere and at any time. Unlike physical insurance agencies, websites don't have a specific schedule and they are available at any time. Drivers that have busy working schedules, can compare quotes from anywhere and at any time, even at midnight. Multiple choices. Almost all insurance providers, no matter if they are well-known brands or just local insurers, have an online presence. Online quotes will allow policyholders the chance to discover multiple insurance companies and check their prices. Drivers are no longer required to get quotes from just a few known insurance companies. Also, local and regional insurers can provide lower insurance rates for the same services. Accurate insurance estimates. Online quotes can only be accurate if the customers provide accurate and real info about their car models and driving history. Lying about past driving incidents can make the price estimates to be lower, but when dealing with an insurance company lying to them is useless. Usually, insurance companies will do research about a potential customer before granting him coverage. Online quotes can be sorted easily. Although drivers are recommended to not choose a policy just based on its price, drivers can easily sort quotes by insurance price. Using brokerage websites will allow drivers to get quotes from multiple insurers, thus making the comparison faster and easier. For additional info, money-saving tips, and free car insurance quotes, visit https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ Compare-autoinsurance.Org is an online provider of life, home, health, and auto insurance quotes. This website is unique because it does not simply stick to one kind of insurance provider, but brings the clients the best deals from many different online insurance carriers. In this way, clients have access to offers from multiple carriers all in one place: this website. On this site, customers have access to quotes for insurance plans from various agencies, such as local or nationwide agencies, brand names insurance companies, etc. "Online quotes can easily help drivers obtain better car insurance deals. All they have to do is to complete an online form with accurate and real info, then compare prices", said Russell Rabichev, Marketing Director of Internet Marketing Company. CONTACT: Company Name: Internet Marketing CompanyPerson for contact Name: Gurgu CPhone Number: (818) 359-3898Email: [email protected]: https://compare-autoinsurance.Org/ SOURCE: Compare-autoinsurance.Org View source version on accesswire.Com:https://www.Accesswire.Com/595055/What-Are-The-Main-Benefits-Of-Comparing-Car-Insurance-Quotes-Online View photos