TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands JVD earthquake

There was a 3.5 earthquake on 5/6 at about 9 pm on the south shore of JVD. Looks like between great and little harbor. Any news of any damage?

3.5? Would anyone really notice? Or would they think a truck went by...?

@twt - Have you ever been in an earthquake? I grew up in Japan and experienced many, but I did have a 3.-something hit while I was on the 35th floor of a building in Tokyo and I certainly noticed it - I thought the building would tip over. Of course, there are both lateral and vertical quakes, each with different effects. And when at anchor or at sea, one doesn't feel a thing.

The quakes I have experienced on Tortola have been the "one bump" kind..very unlike the Ca quakes..At our Southern Ca home during the Northridge quake I thought the house was coming down on us..and the Napa quake years later was violent..the BVI quakes are pretty tame after that!

I have been in a few - a couple of bump types, and one swaying one that left an impression. Being 300-400 feet up, I'd certainly expect to feel a 3.5 quake - but nothing is that tall on Jost! Just wouldn't be surprised if no one noticed!

Looking it up, USGS has it centered 102km north of Charlotte Amalie!

Keep Smiling!!!

The earthquake I mentioned was 12 km NNE of Cruz Bay according to USGS. Glad that there wasn’t any damage so far.

My limited experience with earthquakes. If you were on land, sitting still or laying awake in bed, you could have felt it. If you had been drinking all day or evening, probably not.

I lived in the BVI for many years. Once, while at anchor, I felt/heard something. I stuck my head out the companionway, thinking one of the Chalwell's ~150ft cargo ships had started their engines. No smoke! Later I went ashore, and several friends asked if I'd felt the earthquake! It happened a second time a few years later.