Earthquake?

[Xislandgirl]

Heard there was an earthquake this morning. Details anyone?

[stjohnjulie]

Yes! It seemed like a pretty big one and it lasted longer than any other I remember. I will be curious to see what it was on the scale.

[Exit Zero]

It is listed on the USGS site as a 6.1 earthquake at 6:40 AST

[Xislandgirl]

That is big one, hope everything is ok.

[stjohnjulie]

Oops, just heard it made CNN...it was a 6.0 I guess.

[RonUSVI]

Fortunately it was far enough out to sea. There was another a short while ago as well!
Settlement, British Virgin Islands 56 miles / 90 km 3.5 7:26 AM AST 2008-10-11
Settlement, British Virgin Islands 64 miles / 104 km 6.1 6:40 AM AST 2008-10-11

[hugo]

It was only 50 miles due north of Jost van Dyke, but fortunately about 7 miles deep. One of the strongest and longest lasting I can remember...so much for sleeping in on Saturday morning!

[nothintolose]

I may totally sound stupid here but when ya'll get earthquakes like the one this morning, do you get huge waves that are mini-tsunamis?

[RonUSVI]

None since 1867!

[sherban]

Earthquake lists & data....
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/rec ... es_all.php

[California Girl]

Maybe that's why I always feel so at home in the Virgin Islands! Rock n' Roll!!!

[jdbcypresstx]

We are at a villa on the North Shore just above Dennis Bay. The earthquake was kind of spooky as we were still in bed and it shook the place pretty good. We have never experienced one before so it was kinda scary. We survived Hurricane Ike in Houston, now an earthquake. Just got back from Cruz Bay and did not hear of any damage.

[mcpenguin5]

This is interesting. I hadn't really considered that there would be earthquakes going on in St. John. Does this happen often? Not that this would keep me away, but WOW!

[California Girl]

mcpenguin, the VI's are volcanic, so there's always a bit of action going on under the surface.

[California Girl]

I may totally sound stupid here but when ya'll get earthquakes like the one this morning, do you get huge waves that are mini-tsunamis?

I just found this on the USGS site:

To: U.S. and Canadian Atlantic, and Gulf of Mexico coastal regions
From: NOAA/NWS/West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Center
Subject: Tsunami Information Statement #1 issued 10/11/2008 at 6:43AM AST

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, and Eastern Canadian provinces. NO tsunami warning, watch or advisory is in effect for these areas.

Based on the earthquake location and magnitude, a widespread damaging tsunami IS NOT expected along the Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, U.S. Atlantic, Eastern Canadian and Gulf of Mexico coasts. Some of these areas may experience non-damaging sea level changes. At coastal locations which have experienced strong ground shaking, local tsunamis are possible due to underwater landslides.

At 6:40 AM Atlantic Standard Time on October 11, an earthquake with preliminary magnitude 6.0 occurred 85 miles/137 Km northeast of Fajardo, Puerto Rico. (Refer to the United States Geological Survey for official earthquake parameters.)

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Ewa Beach, Hawaii will issue messages for areas in the Caribbean outside Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

This will be the only statement issued for this event by the West Coast/Alaska Tsunami Warning Center unless conditions warrant. See the WCATWC web site for basic tsunami information, safety rules, and a tsunami travel time map and table. (NOTE: Travel time maps and tables indicate forecasted times only, not that a wave was generated.)

http://wcatwc.arh.noaa.gov/2008/10/11/3 ... 161-01.htm