Region 9 administration provides support to affected families following earthquake

The Civil Defence Commission (CDC) continues to monitor the impact of the 5.7 magnitude earthquake which struck several parts of Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) on Sunday.
The CDC stated that based on the assessments conducted across the regions, the Regional Disaster Response System was activated.
Assessments were done in the Katoonarib and Sawariwau villages located in the Deep South, Rupununi areas.
Those assessments revealed damages to two (2) homes and a few earth surface cracks. While the team was on the ground, loud rumbling sounds were heard about three times from different directions around the communities. There are no reports of loss of human lives.
However, residents related that years ago a similar sound was heard, and it felt like “movement” of the earth.
Nevertheless, Regional Executive Officer Karl Singh has informed the CDC that the region will assist in the rehabilitation of the homes that were damaged by the natural disaster.
Construction materials were being transported to the affected communities on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the Civil Defence Commission would be partnering with the Natural Resources Ministry to conduct further analysis, observation, and assessments to gain a comprehensive perspective of the region’s susceptibility to seismic hazard.
The Commission is also in discussion with the Seismic Research Centre of the University of the West Indies and the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency to provide technical support if the need arises.
The result of these assessments could determine future actions which can include are but not limited to conducting earthquake preparedness and response planning and training, evacuation drills and exploring the possibility of developing earthquake-resilient infrastructure codes for that region and by extension Guyana.