Earthquake rocks Jamaicans in Trinidad

The massive 7.0 earthquake which struck yesterday in Venezuela, was also in other Caribbean territories especially Trinidad and Tobago.

Jamaicans in the twin island republic have expressed gratitude that their lives and those of their loved ones were spared.

The quake, which occurred around 4:30 p.m., originally measured 6.7 but was later upgraded to 7.0 by the United States Geological Survey.

Diandra Matterson, a Jamaican, felt the quake and took to Facebook to express how she felt.

She said, "The scariest and longest earthquake just happened a while ago. This the first time I felt scared and ran outside. Like the entire building ran out! I honestly thought the building out front was gonna collapse. Was that serious. I am shook a.f."

When our news team contacted other Jamaicans living in Trinidad, they told THE STAR that they were thankful to be alive.

Kemar Mullings said, "Boi it gone now. A di most frightening three minutes ever. It shake down the place and gone. Is a bus mi did inna. Some place get it worse than some parts. Buildings crack and everybody frighten. Mi see all car mash up."

Nadine Williamson told our news team, "Mi deh a Jamaica and never feel dem type a shake ya. I am in Chaguaramas. Here was badly affected. Haven't heard of any loss of lives."

The earthquake's epicentre was around 100 kilometres from Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago's capital city.

The quake was also felt by persons in Grenada.

The US Pacific Tsunami Center said the quake, which was fairly deep, could cause small tsunami waves along the coast near the epicentre, 23 miles southwest of the town of Carupano.

A magnitude 7.3 quake is considered major and is capable of causing widespread, heavy damage, but the quake was 76.5 miles deep, which would have dampened the shaking.