Guyana feels tremors from 7.3 Venezuelan earthquake

– Region 1 reports most intense shaking in recent memory

The Barima-Waini (Region One) region was hit with intense shaking from Tuesday evening’s tremor and according to Regional Democratic Council (RDC) Chairman Brentnol Ashley, it was the worst they have seen in recent memory.
The unsettling movements stemmed from a magnitude 7.3 earthquake 20km NNW of Yaguaraparo, Venezuela, which resulted in tremors being felt in Guyana, as well as in neighbouring countries such as Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados and Grenada. It occurred around 05:30h and lasted for several minutes.
Apart from Region One, other sections of Guyana felt the tremors at varying intensities, which left some running out of buildings while others held on to

anything that could assist them in their bid to remain steady.
Ashley told this newspaper that he was gathering information to determine to what extent the tremors affected his district, given that Region One was closest in proximity to the epicenter.
“From my perspective this is the first time we experienced a tremor of that magnitude because it was in excess of four to five minutes and you could physically see the earth trembling and buildings shaking and vehicles as well,” Ashley said Tuesday evening.
Guyana Times learnt that in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), the tremors were felt to the point where some persons fled from their homes as the shaking intensified. Similarly, in Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), the vibrations got to the point where the proprietors of a Chinese supermarket in Goed Fortuin, West Bank Demerara suffered minor losses when several items fell off shelves.
Information coming out of Cuyuni-Mazaruni (Region Seven) was that tremors were felt across the region, including areas such as Kamarang, Upper Mazaruni and in the town of Bartica. Chairman of the district, Gordon Bradford told Guyana Times that no damage was recorded, according to the information that was relayed to him. This publication was told that in Berbice, persons there were also running out of their homes.
In the capital city Georgetown, several persons were seen gathering on the streets as they anxiously waited for the tremors to end. However, reports also stated that business entities saw employees being temporarily evacuated as the frequency of the tremors increased.