Powerful quake shakes Caribbean, one dead
Saturday, December 1, 2007
A POWERFUL 7.4 magnitude earthquake shook several Caribbean holiday islands, destroying buildings and killing at least one person and causing widespread panic.
Thousands of residents fled their homes on the French island of Martinique and in Barbados after the earthquake struck late last Thursday.
The quake, which was felt as far as Venezuela and the US territory of Puerto Rico, left at least two people injured in Martinique, while Barbados' emergency services chief was hurt while helping the population, police said.
One third of Martinique and thousands in Guadeloupe lost electricity.
One elderly woman died after suffering a heart attack in the panic of the moment in Martinique, security officials said.
The US Geological Survey said the quake's epicentre was about 23km northwest of Martinique, causing buildings to collapse on the French island and Barbados.
Police helicopters flew over Martinique to search for casualties.
"For the moment, a building and a bank have collapsed," a Martinique police official said.
While no casualties were reported in the French territory of Guadeloupe, police said fires were reported in the main city of Pointe-a-Pitre.
Hospitals were functioning normally except Hospital de Trinite, where an eight-storey tower developed large cracks after the quake.
"We have rarely seen anything like this. This lasted for more than 30 seconds. The last time round was in 1970 and it was less powerful," a local resident said.
In Paris, French Interior Minister Michele Alliot-Marie summoned an emergency meeting to consider relief measures.
AFP
Thousands of residents fled their homes on the French island of Martinique and in Barbados after the earthquake struck late last Thursday.
The quake, which was felt as far as Venezuela and the US territory of Puerto Rico, left at least two people injured in Martinique, while Barbados' emergency services chief was hurt while helping the population, police said.
One third of Martinique and thousands in Guadeloupe lost electricity.
One elderly woman died after suffering a heart attack in the panic of the moment in Martinique, security officials said.
The US Geological Survey said the quake's epicentre was about 23km northwest of Martinique, causing buildings to collapse on the French island and Barbados.
Police helicopters flew over Martinique to search for casualties.
"For the moment, a building and a bank have collapsed," a Martinique police official said.
While no casualties were reported in the French territory of Guadeloupe, police said fires were reported in the main city of Pointe-a-Pitre.
Hospitals were functioning normally except Hospital de Trinite, where an eight-storey tower developed large cracks after the quake.
"We have rarely seen anything like this. This lasted for more than 30 seconds. The last time round was in 1970 and it was less powerful," a local resident said.
In Paris, French Interior Minister Michele Alliot-Marie summoned an emergency meeting to consider relief measures.
AFP
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