On the 24th December 2017, around 11:10 am, according to the Puerto Rico Seismic Network, an earthquake measuring a magnitude of 5.2 occurred in the vicinity of the Leeward Islands. The epicenter was located at latitude 18.09, longitude 62.79 or approximately 104 miles East of The Virgin Islands at a depth of 75km. No tsunami watches or warnings were issued for the VI from this event.
The Department of Disaster Management (DDM) takes this time to remind the BVI community that we live in a seismically active zone, which makes the Territory vulnerable to earthquakes. During an earthquake it is important to stay calm, if you are inside stay there, move away from ceiling fans, glass windows and doors or anything that may fall. Get under a desk or sturdy piece of furniture cover your head and hold on. If outdoors, move into an open area away from trees, building, or utility wires and poles. During an earthquake the more you move the more likely you are to be hurt, so refrain from entering or exiting a building at the time of the impact.
Persons who felt this earthquake can assist the DDM and the Puerto Rico Seismic Network in determining its intensity by logging on to the link below and filling out the electronic form
http://www.prsn.uprm.edu/English/DFI/reportesismosII.php?id=20171224151059&lat=18.097&lon=-62.797&prof=74.5
