Dr. Virginia Clerveaux, Director of the Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies, wants the public and authorities to take seriously the threat of an earthquake or tsunami striking the Turks and Caicos Islands.
Her remarks come in light of recent and alarming seismic activity throughout the region and the rest of the world.
On September 23rd, the Dominican Republic experienced a 5.2 magnitude earthquake, bringing the country to a total of 7 minor to moderate earthquakes in a 10-day time span.
On September 28th, a strong earthquake was felt off the coast of the Leeward Islands. Dominica and Martinique were among those affected.
Internationally, a monster 7.5 earthquake struck the Indonesian island of Sulawesi, causing a tsunami that has left 844 people dead as of today, October 3rd, 2018. The death toll expected to climb.
Most recently, a 5.9 magnitude earthquake hit Port de Paix, Haiti at 8:11p.m. on Saturday, October, 6th, 2018. Reports reaching RTC indicate that the extending tremors were felt as far away as the Southern Bahamas and residents in various locations throughout the Turks of Caicos Islands have reported feeling tremors following the earthquake.
Dr. Clerveaux urged the country to remember that hurricanes are not the only natural threat to our islands. We are also extremely vulnerable to earthquakes and tsunamis.
Though the Turks and Caicos is not on or near the fault line of a tectonic plate, the country can feel tremors from earthquakes that occur in nearby locations.
These islands are at great risk of tsunamis which often occur in the immediate aftermath of an earthquake, giving those in its path very little time to prepare.
Dr. Clerveaux hopes that TCI can soon invest in the installation of an emergency warning system across the TCI to warn the public of such threats. This system may include sirens that will ring out to warn those around of impending danger.
The director also hopes that the country can soon complete the mapping of the ocean floor. This will allow experts to determine which areas will receive the highest or lowest waves in the event of a tsuanmi, and thus, determine which points are safest for refuge.
In the event of a tsunami, Dr. Clerveaux says to get to high ground as quickly as possible.
Source: Allie Capron (RTC News)
