By Admin. Updated 2:45 p.m., Monday, October 30, 2023, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).
Vincentian students in Jamaica are safe after a 5.6 magnitude earthquake struck the northern Caribbean island today (October 30).
The President of the Vincentian Students Association – VINSA Rachelle Bradshaw told One News today that “All members are accounted for and while terribly shaken up everyone is okay.”
She said: “Persons reported having to run out of their rooms and classes, I was in class waiting on my 11 a.m. class to begin when the building began shaking and debris started to fall on me and my classmates.”
“Persons’ rooms are a mess, many items are broken but again everyone is physically okay,” she told One News SVG.
“Classes have been canceled and persons are asked to check their rooms for damages by their hall representatives. At the moment, I’m keeping abreast and liaising any updates provided by the Student Council to the Vincentian Students,” she said.
She said while physically okay, students are “emotionally distressed”.
“Many are asking for an infrastructure assessment report of the buildings as we do not feel safe re-entering the classrooms tomorrow and days to come,” VINSA’s President added.
As of press time, Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness said there was no reported loss of life after the quake, but damage to buildings and structures has been recorded across the country.
“The damage assessment so
far is that the damage has been minor, but nevertheless, we are taking all precautions,” he said.
Many buildings had to be evacuated in Kingston and other areas; cracks on the walls of some concrete buildings have been recorded, and supermarket floors have been littered with fallen goods.
The damage assessment is ongoing.
One News SVG 