The magnitude of the Venezuela earthquakes has caused disruption to the entire Caribbean Plate.
According to the UWI Seismic Research Centre, this is due to the significant amount of energy released.
It adds that it is currently seeing a small increase in the number of regional earthquakes at present in response to this.
The matter however is complex.
UWI-SRC Director, Dr. Erouscilla Joseph, says “While all earthquakes occur within the broader Caribbean-South American plate boundary zone, the events occurred as a result of different tectonic processes. Earthquakes of this size can influence stress in the surrounding region, but it is generally difficult to establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship between individual events.”
According to Dr. Joseph, a magnitude 7.5 earthquake is considered a major earthquake and is significant on a regional scale.
However, she says while the Venezuela event is among the larger earthquakes recorded globally this year, it is not among the largest earthquakes recorded worldwide over the past decade.
What makes the event particularly noteworthy, is its occurrence near populated areas and the fact that two large earthquakes occurred within less than a minute of each other.
Preliminary analyses indicate that the earthquakes occurred within the active plate boundary zone between the Caribbean and South American tectonic plates.
UWI-SRC says detailed studies are ongoing to determine the exact fault segment involved.
On the matter of whether citizens in Trinidad and Tobago should be concerned about further seismic activity closer to home, Dr. Joseph said, “The public should not be alarmed, but they should be prepared. Trinidad and Tobago, like Venezuela and many other Caribbean countries, is located within an active seismic region where earthquakes can occur. Events such as this remind us of the importance of preparedness.”
A team from UWI-SRC was also on site today at Galfa Point in the south western peninsula, where significant land movement was reported in the wake of the tremors.
