A minor earthquake with a magnitude of 2.9 struck the Caribbean Sea near Antigua Island, Antigua and Barbuda, on the evening of Thursday, July 11, 2024. The quake occurred at 8:12 PM local time, with a very shallow depth of 13.9 km (9 miles).
According to the Réseau National de Surveillance Sismique (RéNaSS), the epicenter was located 38 km southeast of St John’s, the capital city of Antigua and Barbuda. Despite the proximity to populated areas, the earthquake was not felt by residents or reported as such.
The seismic event registered as very weak shaking on the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale, with a shaking intensity classified as “II: Very weak” in the nearest larger town, Freetown, which lies 26 km north of the epicenter. Other nearby locations, such as Falmouth and All Saints, also reported very weak shaking.
The quake’s occurrence comes shortly after a magnitude 3.5 earthquake struck 75 km north of Antigua and Barbuda on July 2, 2024. While this recent tremor did not cause any damage or significant disturbances, it serves as a reminder of the region’s seismic activity.
Seismograms from the Anse Bertrand station in Guadeloupe, located 43 km from the quake’s epicenter, recorded the seismic waves. The data revealed that the earthquake released an estimated 1.4 x 10^9 joules of energy, equivalent to 0.338 tons of TNT.
Historically, the region has experienced significant seismic events, with the largest in recent history being a magnitude 6.1 earthquake in Guadeloupe in January 2023. The most powerful earthquake recorded in the area since 1900 was a magnitude 7.9 quake in Martinique in December 1906.
Authorities continue to monitor seismic activity in the region to ensure the safety and preparedness of residents. While Thursday’s quake was minor and went largely unnoticed, it underscores the importance of maintaining vigilance in earthquake-prone areas.
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