NWA: No significant damage to physical infrastructure due to earthquake
Vanassa McKenzie / Our Today
Chief Executive Officer of the National Works Agency (NWA) E.G. Hunter says preliminary assessment has found no significant damage to roads and other physical infrastructure across the island following the 5.6-magnitude earthquake that jolted the island on Monday, October 30.
Hunter noted that the NWA will continue to conduct assessments over the next few days.
“I would like to report that in respect to road and bridge infrastructure, fortunately, we haven’t suffered any damage of any significance. There have been a few landslides, mostly in the eastern parts of the country, Portland, St Mary, St Ann but our parish teams have been mobilised, and these will be dealt with precipitously,” he said.
The NWA CEO also noted that assessments have been done on several government buildings, including the Office of the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Finance, to determine if the buildings are habitable.
He noted that initial assessments have revealed that there was no structural damage to the building of the Office of the Prime Minister, however, he said there was a separation of a stairwell at the Ministry of Finance. Consequently, the NWA has recommended that the stairwell not be used until remedial work is carried out.
“We also visited the Shalimar complex in Vineyard Town, unfortunately, one of the buildings there has been sufficiently damaged to the point where I have spoken to the financial secretary and it is our recommendation that this building not be used until certain structural support has been put in place,” he added.
Hunter further noted that a team from the NWA has also visited the office of the Accountant General’s Department on Dominica Drive in New Kingston, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in downtown Kingston where surface cracks were seen, however, there was no structural damage.
According to The University of the West Indies’ Earthquake Unit, the 5.6-magnitude earthquake was felt on Monday around 10: 57 a.m., with the epicentre located 10 kilometres south of Bull Bay, Portland.
The earthquake resulted in several businesses and schools closing early, with minor damage reported to buildings.
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