Barbados has settled quickly after experiencing minor earth tremors resulting from seismic activity further north of the island chain.

At approximately 3:00 pm on Thursday, November 29, 2007, the eve of the country’s celebration of its 41st Anniversary of Independence, the region, including Barbados, experienced varying degrees of seismic activity.  

No casualties were reported in Barbados as a direct result of the tremors and there was negligible damage to property. Only a solitary serious incident, where a house was damaged, was reported.

The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency (CDERA) had revealed that tremors were felt as far south as Guyana and as far north as Puerto Rico. The epicentre was located at 14.70 degrees north and 60.89 degrees west, just off the coast of the French island of Martinique.

According to a release from the University of the West Indies (UWI) Seismic Research Unit, there are no threats of a tsunami from this event.

Within a few hours of the tremors, life virtually returned to normal Indeed, the island’s Independence celebrations got under way the same evening with a scheduled gala at the Prime Minister’s official residence, which was well attended. The main highlights of the celebrations – the Independence Ceremonial Parade of uniformed groups at the Garrison Savannah on the morning of November 30; and the National Awards Ceremony at Government House later in the day, also came off with much pomp and pageantry and without a hitch.

With Barbadians and visitors alike going about their business as usual, the country, like others in the region, is constantly reviewing its emergency preparedness response mechanisms to ensure that they meet the requisite standards of small island states.

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