A magnitude 7.7 earthquake occurred on January 28 at 2:10 PM EST, situated about 75 miles northwest of Jamaica, approximately 80 miles southwest of Cuba’s Bayamo state.
Strong ground motions have been reported in Montego Bay, Jamaica. The earthquake occurred along the northern margins of the Caribbean seismic plate and is the most powerful earthquake in this region for at least 100 years. There have been four more magnitude 6.6+ earthquakes in the region in the last 100 years.
The initial reports of isolated pockets of severe ground motion in Jamaica produce an expectation of pockets of damage to older structures or structures with inadequate seismic design. Ground motions in the capital city of Kingston, Jamaica are reported to be from weak to light. CoreLogic continues to monitor this earthquake to support their response and recovery.
