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JAM | Jan 16, 2025

2024 another active seismic year for Jamaica, Earthquake Unit reports

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Head and research fellow at the Earthquake Unit, Kevin Tankoo, addresses a JIS Think Tank on January 15, 2025. (Photo: JIS)

The Earthquake Unit (EQU) at the University of the West Indies (UWI) says that 2024 was a year of
significant seismic activity for Jamaica.

Kevin Tankoo, head and research fellow at the EQU, disclosed that “2024 was another active year” as several earthquakes were recorded.

“We would have recorded upwards of 600 earthquakes but these included around 310 located local earthquakes,” Tankoo told a JIS Think Tank on Wednesday (January 15).

He noted that of the total, 19 were felt earthquakes, encompassing both local events and those occurring in the near region, including areas near Cuba and Haiti.

Tankoo also indicated that last year, the largest magnitude earthquake recorded locally was approximately 5.2 magnitude, and this was felt across the island in different parishes.

“This followed the event that we had in the Blue Mountain block in 2023, that larger earthquake, the 5.6 magnitude,” said Tankoo, adding that “a lot of these local figures that we got both in 2023 and 2024 were as a result of the aftershocks following the larger events.”

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Earthquake Unit Jamaica Kevin Tankoo seismic activity University of the West Indies

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