The United States Geological Survey recorded
a Magnitude 5.9 Earthquake at a depth of 34.8 km roughly 22 km southeast of Scarborough, the capital of Tobago, slightly after 5.40 pm local time (slightly after 9.40 pm GMT) on Tuesday 6 December 2016. This was a large quake, but at some
depth as well as some way offshore, and there are no reports of any
casualties or serious damage, though the quake was felt over a large area, with
people reporting feeling it across much of northeast Venezuela, as well
as in Trinidad and Tobago, Grenada, St Vincent and the Grenadines and St Lucya.
Goods shaken from the shelves of a supermarket in Trinidad and Tobago. DownaYaad.
Trinidad and Tobago form part of the southern margin of the Caribbean
Plate, which is moving eastward compared to the South American Plate to the south. This is not a smooth process, the
two plates constantly stick together, then break apart as the pressure
builds up, causing Earthquakes in the process.
The approximate location of the 6 December 2016 Tobago Earthquake. Google.
Witness
accounts of Earthquakes can help geologists to understand these events,
and the structures that cause them. The international non-profit
organisation Earthquake Report is interested in hearing from people who may have felt this event; if you felt this quake then you can report it to Earthquake Report here.
See also...
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