Earthquake Mag. 7.4 - Martinique Region Minor Injuries

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Earthquake Magnitude 7.4 - Eastern Caibbean

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An earthquake of magnitude 7.4 has struck the highly populated
region of Martinique Region, Windward Isl. in Martinique.

Based on earthquake information alone, it is likely that a tsunami was generated. Please refer to the
GDACS tsunami report
for more details.

[q
url="http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=071130113330.isznyqhd&show_article=1&catnum=0"]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 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 epicenter was about 23
kilometers (14 miles) 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 told AFP.

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.

The earthquake was 143 kilometers (89 miles) deep, causing no threat
of a destructive tsunami, according to the US-based Pacific Tsunami
Warning Center.

In Fort de France, people took shelter under tables, while others
rushed out of buildings or even jumped out of windows. There were
similar scenes in Barbados.

USGS geophysicist Stuart Sipkin said large earthquakes in the Caribbean were uncommon but not unheard of.[/q]

[q
url="http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D8T7HFI80&show_article=1&catnum=0"]TOKYO,
Nov. 30 (AP) - (Kyodo)—A strong but deep earthquake with a preliminary
magnitude of 7.3 struck near the Caribbean island of Martinique on
Thursday local time, the Japan Meteorological Agency reported early
Friday.

The quake hit around 4 a.m. Friday Japan time, or 3 p.m. Thursday local time, the agency said.

The quake occurred at a depth of about 150 kilometers, it said, quoting data by the U.S. Geological Survey.

The agency issued no tsunami warning.[/q]