British Virgin Islands
Earthquake shakes Virgin Islands
By Department of Disaster Mangement, BVI
Mon, 22 Jan 2007, 07:40

Tortola, Monday January 22nd, 2007 - A minor earthquake measuring a magnitude of 3.7 on the Richter scale was felt in the Virgin Islands at 6:39 early this morning. The Puerto Rico Seismic Research Unit instruments located the epicenter of the earthquake at 18.56-north latitude and 65.03-west longitude, or 25 km north-northwest of St. Thomas USVI. The depth of the earthquake was 22.9 kilometers. The maximum intensity was recorded as III in the Virgin Islands according to the Modified Mercalli Scale.

At the time of generating this news release no damage has been reported.


Persons who have felt the earthquake can assist the Puerto Rico Seismic Network in determining its intensity by logging on to http://redsismica.uprm.edu and completing a simple electronic form.

FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Natasha Lettsome,
Information Training Manager
Department for Disaster Management
Tortola, BVI
Tel: (284) 494-4499
E-Mail:  nlettsome@gov.vg