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…construction materials deployed on Tuesday
Residents of the Deep South Rupununi primarily affected by the 5.7 magnitude earthquake felt across Guyana on Sunday will be receiving assistance to rebuild their damaged homes from the Region Nine Regional Democratic Council (RDC).
Added to this, the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) will be partnering with the Ministry of Natural Resources to conduct further analysis to determine future actions regarding earthquake preparedness.
Based on the CDC’s assessments conducted across the Regions, the Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo (Region 9) which shares border with Brazil was hardest hit. The Regional Disaster Response System was activated and assessments in the Katoonarib and Sawariwau villages located in the Deep South, Rupununi areas were conducted on February 1, 2021.
Those assessments revealed damages to two homes and a few earth surfaces cracks. Furthermore, while the team was on the ground, loud rumbling sounds were heard about three times from different directions around the communities. There are no reports of loss of human lives. Residents reported that years ago this sound was heard, and it felt like “movement” of the earth.
Region Nine RDC Regional Executive Officer (REO), Karl Singh has informed the CDC that the Region will assist in the rehabilitation of the homes that are damaged. According to a press release from CDC, construction materials are being deployed to the communities today.
Meanwhile, further analysis, observation, and assessments in collaboration with the Ministry will help to gain a comprehensive perspective of the Region’s susceptibility to seismic hazard.
“The Commission is also in discussion with The Seismic Research Centre of the University of the West Indies and the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency to provide technical support if the need arises. The result of these assessments could determine future actions which can include but not limited to conducting earthquake preparedness and response planning and training, evacuation drills and exploring the possibility of developing earthquake-resilient infrastructure codes for that Region and by extension Guyana,” the CDC stated.
On Sunday, January 31, 2021, an earthquake with a shallow depth of 10 km and an epicenter near Boa Vista, Roraima, occurred at 3:05 pm local time. Shallow earthquakes are felt more strongly than deeper ones as they are closer to the surface.
