A 7.3-magnitude earthquake just 21 miles northwest off the coast of Martinique was felt on Thursday afternoon, November 29, at 3 p.m. in the Virgin Islands as a long, rumbling tremor lasting about 30 seconds.
No damage or injuries were reported in the territory, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association issued an advisory soon after the earthquake assuring residents there was no danger of a tsunami due to the depth of the earthquake — approximately 90 miles below the ocean’s surface.
“A strong earthquake has occurred, but a tsunami is not expected along the coasts of Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, U.S. Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico states,” according to the NOAA advisory. “At coastal locations which have experienced strong ground shaking, local tsunamis are possible due to underwater landslides.”
The quake reportedly registered as a 4.8 in Trinidad and Tobago, where buildings were evacuated as a precaution. Roofs collapsed on a few buildings in Martinique’s capital, Fort-de-France, however no major injuries or fatalities were reported. The minimal amount of damage was due to the quake’s significant depth, according to published reports.
