ROSEAU, Dominica, CMC – Disaster officials here were on Monday assuring Dominicans that they were in no immediate danger after an earthquake with a magnitude of 5.1 rocked the neighbouring French island of Guadeloupe on Sunday.
Residents, especially in the southeast, and areas of the north reported feeling tremors but there were no reports of damage to buildings.
The U.S. Geological Survey reported that the quake struck at 5:43 p.m. at a distance of 21 miles (34 km) east-north-east of Grand-Bourg, Guadeloupe.
Acting Coordinator of the local Disaster Preparedness Office, Don Corriette, said although there was no exact way to predict earthquakes, there was no immediate need for concern.
“There is no need to worry. I don’t think anything is imminent at this time. It is not an exact science and unlike hurricanes we cannot always predict when a disaster is going to happen. What we can ask people to do is take in the official reports on the radio,” Corriette said.
He said that educational workshops were being held in the north and south of the island where seismic activity has been concentrated in recent years.
“We have on board with us some scientists from Trinidad and Tobago and the objective is to spread the education and the knowledge and the findings of the scientists to the general public,” he said.
Corriette said Dominica, volcanic in nature, though vulnerable was not in immediate danger.
“There is nothing that suggests that a volcanic eruption is imminent and there is nothing that suggests that we are going to have any sort of activity that will warrant mass evacuation or mass panic.
“We have to try to manage the situation in a way that will allow us to be prepared if we get aftershocks from the Haiti scenario that triggers down or in case we get a quake as a result of the plates shifting,” he added.
“There is no need to worry. I don’t think anything is imminent at this time. It is not an exact science and unlike hurricanes we cannot always predict when a disaster is going to happen. What we can ask people to do is take in the official reports on the radio,” Corriette said.”
I cannot believe what i am reading. What nonsense and utter rubbish ….
This man is suppose to calm the fears of D/cans instead he is making these contradictory and convoluted statements? Tell the people what you all are doing in the event of an earthquake. We all know by now that earthquakes cannot be predicted like hurricanes, therefore we don’t know whether one is imminent or not – we can only prepare ourselves.
ROOTS – that was my first observation from reading this as well. How more contradictory could this official get, and very un-reassuring to the population I might add.
In my view, they should be looking at reinforcing the importance of building codes, and they should also be preparing the nation for emergency preparedness and the like. They should be having work shops on first aid and CPR. They should also be thinking strategically by having backup plans in the event the telecomunication system goes down. Failure to plan accordingly will result in a choatic response and situation.
I believe that all Dominicans or at least persons who work in places such as hospitals, fire and ambulance services, schools, health centres and major business places etc. should set aside a day each month or every three months in general to carry out First Aid Training and Exit procedures in the event that these disasters do take place.
i was thinking the same thing. if there is no way to predict a quake, and we are getting them (tremors), how can you say there is no immediate need for concern?
say, we should at least be aware and get prepared in the event…
say, so not take them for granted as we are experiencing them throughout the region and the world world…
say stuff like that. i mean do not try to fuel a mass panic but reality doesnt lie my boy.
well said roots. that’s what she should have said, “take precaution”, its almost impossible that people will not panic after what happened in Haiti. so please miss corriete, give us some better reassurance
Roots u have a point there lol! them saying dont be concerned
I totally agree
.. We as a people need to realise this is not the common cold or an effort to predict if its going to rain or not. The entire caribbean should be placed on high alert. i am not speaking of an exodus i am talking of what could happen cause the plates moved for a reason and they may continue to move and in what direction they are moving and how it may affect the entire caribbean.
This is contradictory! How can you assure Dominicans that there shouldn’t be worry or concern, yet in the same breath say there is no way to predict earth quakes??
You do not know . . . neither do we. So we all should be concerned. Now if you say don’t panic, but take necessary precaution is a different story.