On the morning of Friday, August 2, 2024, a light earthquake with a magnitude of 2.6 was recorded in the Caribbean Sea, approximately 38 kilometers southeast of St John’s, Antigua and Barbuda. The quake struck at 7:33 a.m. local time (America/Antigua GMT -4).
According to the Réseau National de Surveillance Sismique (RENASS), the earthquake had a shallow depth of 20.3 kilometers and was confirmed manually. Despite its proximity to populated areas, there have been no reports of the quake being felt by residents in the region. The shaking intensity was classified as “very weak” on the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale.
The epicenter was located at 16.8638°N latitude and 61.6076°W longitude, with nearby locations including Freetown, Falmouth, and All Saints in Antigua and Barbuda, as well as several towns in Guadeloupe and Montserrat. The closest larger town to the epicenter, Freetown, is about 23 kilometers northwest, yet the earthquake was not reported to have been felt there.
Despite its light magnitude, the seismic energy released by the quake was estimated at 5 x 10^8 joules, equivalent to 139 kilowatt hours or approximately 0.12 tons of TNT. This amount of energy is relatively minor and typically results in very weak or imperceptible shaking, as evidenced by the lack of felt reports.
This event highlights the importance of monitoring seismic activity in the Caribbean region, where tectonic activity can occasionally lead to more significant earthquakes. For now, the residents of Antigua and Barbuda can rest assured that this particular quake has caused no damage or noticeable impact.
Further details and updates on this earthquake can be accessed through interactive maps, seismograms, and user reports, although no user reports have been filed for this quake at this time. The nearest active volcano to the epicenter, Soufriere Hills in Montserrat, remains unaffected by this minor seismic event.
Advertise with the mоѕt vіѕіtеd nеwѕ ѕіtе іn Antigua!
We offer fully customizable and flexible digital marketing packages.
Contact us at [email protected]
