1907 Kingston earthquake

Earthquake in Jamaica October 2025 1907-01-14 20:36:00 1907 Jamaica earthquake 14 January 1907 15:30 610326322 iscgem610326322 PSM V70 D390 Map of the jamaica earthquake.png Jamaica w y 6.2 18.2 -76.7 inline,titleNational Geophysical Data Center https://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/hazel/view/hazards/earthquake/event-more-info/2801 Significant Earthquake Information 1972 National Geophysical Data Center / World Data Service (NGDC/WDS): NCEI/WDS Global Significant Earthquake Database. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. 10.7289/V5TD9V7K 21 March 2024 Jamaica yes ~1,000 The 1907 Kingston earthquake which shook the capital of the island of Jamaica with a magnitude of 6.2 on the moment magnitude scale on Monday 14 January, at about 3:30 p.m. local time (20:36 UTC), is described by the United States Geological Survey as one of the world's deadliest earthquakes recorded in history. Every building in Kingston was damaged by the earthquake and subsequent fires, which lasted for three hours before any efforts could be made to check them, culminating in the death of about 1,000 people, and causing approximately $30 million in material damage ($US 30 1907 2 million in US). Shortly after, a tsunami was reported on the north coast of Jamaica, with a maximum wave height of about 2 m (6–8 ft).Today in Earthquake History https://earthquake.usgs.gov/learn/today/index.php?month=1&day=14&submit=View+Date United States Geological Survey 14 January 2010 15 January 2010 Tectonic setting Jamaica lies within a complex zone of faulting that forms the boundary between the Gonâve microplate and the Caribbean plate. To the east of the island the main fault is the Enriquillo–Plantain Garden fault zone while to the west the main structure is the Walton fault zone, both major sinistral (left lateral) strike-slip faults. The transfer of plate boundary displacement between these major fault zones takes place on a series of NW–SE trending faults, such as the Wagwater Belt. The overall tectonic setting is one of transpression at this restraining bend in the plate boundary.Mann P. Demets C. & Wiggins-Grandison M. Restraining bends, transpressional deformation and basement controls on development Cunningham W.D. & Mann P. Geological Society, London 2007 Geological Society, London, Special Publications 290 239–253 Toward a better understanding of the Late Neogene strike-slip restraining bend in Jamaica: geodetic, geological, and seismic constraints http://www.geology.wisc.edu/~chuck/PDF/Mann_Jam_07_SpecVol.pdf 29 October 2010 Damage thumb|The narrow harbour street of the burned district The greatest damage occurred at Kingston and at Buff Bay and Annotto Bay on the northern coast. Eighty-five percent of buildings in Kingston were destroyed by the shaking, which was followed by a fire that destroyed parts of the business and warehouse districts. The Elder-Dempster passenger steamer Port Kingston, which was under repair in Kingston Harbour at the time, was threatened by fire on the nearby wharf. A rapid temporary repair allowed her to be moved to the safety of an unaffected railway wharf.https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1907/01/20/106736584.pdf Saw Kingston's day of terror Caine R.H. 18 January 1907 The New York Times 3 November 2010 A suspension bridge was destroyed at Port Maria. Characteristics thumb|left|230px|View of Kingston in 1907 showing damage caused by the earthquake. Earthquake The main shock lasted for about 35 seconds after some minor initial tremors and was accompanied by a roaring sound. The intensity of the shaking grew quickly to a first and strongest climax. The intensity then lessened before again reaching a second weaker climax. There were eighty aftershocks recorded up to 5 February, while the strongest of all was recorded on 23 February.Brown C.W. May 1907 The Jamaica earthquake Popular Science 385–403 https://books.google.com/books?id=diMDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA385 2 November 2010 The epicenter of the earthquake is not well constrained. The only seismograph in Jamaica at the time was put out of action by the earthquake. The rupture may have been on an eastward continuation of the South Coast Fault Zone, within the Wagwater Belt or in the Blue Mountains. The greatest felt intensity was noted for areas built on unconsolidated sands and gravels. To the east of Kingston, along the Palisadoes, there were sandblows and surface faulting associated with areas of subsidence and flooding. Tsunami thumb|Northward view of the street in the business section After the earthquake, tsunami were observed along much of the north coast of Jamaica at Hope Bay, Port Antonio, Orange Bay, Sheerness Bay, Saint Ann's Bay, Buff Bay, Port Maria and Annotto Bay; there were also some reports of waves along the south coast. Seiches were reported in Kingston Harbour. The level of the sea at Annotto Bay was reported to have initially dropped by more than 3 m, as the sea withdrew a distance of about 80 m on, before returning at a height of about 2 m above normal, flooding the lower parts of the town.Maul G.A. Mercado-Irizarry A. & Liu P.L.F. Caribbean tsunami hazard https://books.google.com/books?id=OVz0DNfCdYMC&pg=PA308 2006 World Scientific 978-981-256-535-8 35 The Case for an Atlantic tsunami warning system Aftermath The Port Kingston, the only passenger ship in Kingston Harbour, was used as a makeshift hospital, with improvised operating theatres in three parts of the ship and on the adjoining wharf. Kingston Public Hospital, despite loss of its water supply, continued to function throughout the following night.Evans A.J. 9 February 1907 Experiences during the recent earthquake in Jamaica British Medical Journal 348 2356668 20763070 1 2406 10.1136/bmj.1.2406.348 Three United States Navy warships, the battleships Indiana BB-1 6 and Missouri BB-11 6 and the destroyer Whipple DD-15 6, landed men and supplies on 17 January, although an offer of eight surgeons was rejected by Governor of Jamaica Alexander Swettenham. Notable victims Sir James Fergusson, 6th Baronet, British politician and colonial governorGoogle Arts and Culture https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/a-postmaster-general-sir-james-fergusson-image-plate-from-vanity-fair-sir-leslie-ward/BQG_NVmw96IwwA?hl=en Bertie Verley, Jamaican cricket playerhttps://www.espncricinfo.com/story/obituaries-in-1907-227835 Obituaries in 1907 1908 Wisden Cricketers' Almanack ESPNcricinfo 25 July 2023 See also List of earthquakes in 1907 List of earthquakes in the Caribbean References External links https://archive.today/20140517225645/http://www.will-robson.com/Jamaica/1907-Kingston-Earthquake-1/n-qJZ6V/ 1907 Earthquake el A pictorial guide to the 1907 Kingston earthquake. "Kingston Wrecked By Earthquake"; The Christian Herald; Jan. 30, 1907, New York; 1907, p. 87. Category:Earthquakes in the Caribbean Category:Natural disasters in Jamaica Kingston Category:1907 in Jamaica Category:1900s tsunamis Category:January 1907 in North America Category:History of Kingston, Jamaica Category:1907 disasters in North America