4.4-magnitude earthquake off Bermuda (Update 4)

MONDAY, APRIL 18: An earthquake measuring 4.4 on the Richter Scale occurred today 50 miles west of Bermuda.

The earthquake struck at 12:38 pm with its epicentre 50 miles west of Bermuda.

Dr. Mark Guishard, director of the Bermuda Weather Service, told the Bermuda Sun there was no risk of a tsunami.

A Government statement said: “The BWS quickly went about the business of alerting the relevant authorities to that fact, in addition to updating the www.weather.bm website, the Bermuda Weather Channels on the cable providers, and the automated phone tapes.

“In addition, the BWS was directly in touch with members of the public who called in to make reports directly.

“It should be noted that there were no official tsunami information statements, alerts, watches or warnings issued as a result of this event; there would not routinely be any urgent messages forthcoming for such a small magnitude earthquake, regardless of how close to land it occurs.

Dr Guishard said: “During this event we were in touch directly with RCC Bermuda Radio, the Bermuda Police Service, the Emergency Measures Organization, and the Department of Airport Operations.

“More information on the confirmed magnitude and location are available via the US Geological Survey’s website, http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/.”

Dr. Tony Knap, director of the Bermuda Institute for Ocean Sciences, said the earthquake, which struck the island, may have been a big deal for Bermuda, it is a smaller one by world standards.

He said: “There are tones of earthquakes a year all around the world. If you go to the USGS site there are lots of earthquake over 4.6 that happen in a day around the world.

“It’s not considered to be a big earthquake.

Dr. Knap said according to the USGS site there are over 1.5 million earthquakes every year with about 25,000 of those being reported.

“Last week there were 307 reported earthquakes.”

The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre initially reported it as a 4.8-magnitude earthquake but has since downgraded it to 4.5-magnitude. 

The United States Geological Society is reporting it as a 4.6-magnitude earthquake with its epicentre at 54 miles WNW of Bermuda. the USGS said the earthquake's depth was 6.2 miles. 

Several residents told the Bermuda Sun about their experiences with the quake.

One man who felt tremours in St. George’s said: “I saw like something either hit the earth but it felt like it was coming from the west end but it felt like a tremour.

“I felt something but I didn’t know what it was. I was kind of awestruck. I felt like a small tremour.

“I thought it was a really loud plane that was shaking the earth until I heard about the earthquake.”

One woman said: “We were sitting in the trailer and felt a strange rumbling. My boss jokingly said it must be an earthquake but then laughed and left it.”

Isabella Hall said: “I was in my office and thought the shaking was people cleaning our roofs but I did wonder if it was an earthquake as the entire building was vibrating.

“It didn't last long but enough to make me feel uneasy.”

The office is located next to Surfside in Warwick.

Jane Vickers, a staff member at Warwick Academy said: “The boys were at home on Woodbourne Crescent in Hamilton and they felt it. 

“Sounded like a train they said.

“Did feel it here at Warwick Academy.”

Nicky Decorte said: “Looking out on Cavello Bay and yes, felt it.

“Checked the road because it felt like a huge truck was rumbling through the street.”

Additional reporting was done by Simon Jones and Don Burgess.