Monday Engineer-Geologist Claude Prépetit, Director of the Bureau of Mines and Energy (BME) in a press conference revealed that from January to August the seismic detection system in Haiti recorded about 26 earthquakes of magnitude between 2.9 and 4.6 on the Richter scale.

He also pointed out that 5 VSAT networks Very Small Aperture Terminal are currently operating in Haiti (Cap-Haitien, Hinche, Léogâne, Port-au-Prince and Jacmel) allowing two-way geostationary satellite communication from satellite dishes on the ground.

He also explained "The weakest earthquakes with magnitudes less than 2.9, not felt by the population, were not recorded by the Haitian seismological network because of the low coverage of installation of seismic stations at the national level. According to the Seismological Observatory of the Polytechnic School Loyola, established in the Dominican Republic, Haiti recorded during the period from January to September, about 300 earthquakes of which nearly 250 were of magnitudes lower than 2.9."

Adding, "[...] From this information, it appears that the departments most at seismic risk in Haiti and under surveillance, are those of the West, the Nippes and the Great North. "

Finally, he wished to recall that earthquakes "[...] are not predictable and can occur at any time [...] only the actions of preparation and prevention can reduce the vulnerability of the country to earthquakes : respect of the para-seismic standards of construction, learning of the behavior to hold before, during and after an earthquake."

Recall that Sunday, September 23, 2018 an earthquake of magnitude 5.2 in the Dominican Republic https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-25616-haiti-flash-earthquake-in-the-north.html , whose epicenter was located 57.6 km east of Fort-Liberté and 95.6 km east of Cap-Haïtien was widely felt at Fort-Liberté, Cap-Haïtien and Grande Rivière du Nord ( earthquake followed by 13 aftershocks from 3.1 to 4.4). Another earthquake was felt Monday night in Cap-Haitien and Quartier Morin according to the Civil Protection.

Richter Scale (measuring the magnitude of an earthquake) :

• From 1.9 to 2.9: Micro-earthquake impossible to feel but recordable by seismographs ;

• From 3.0 to 3.9 earthquake Does not cause damage but can be slightly felt ;

• From 4.0 to 4.9 Earthquake capable of moving objects but generally not causing damage ;

• From 5.0 to 5.9 Earthquake capable of causing major damage to old buildings or buildings with structural defects. Little damage to modern buildings ;

• From 6.0 to 6.9 Strong earthquake capable of causing major destruction over a wide distance (180 km) around the epicenter ;

• From 7.0 to 7.9 Earthquake capable of major to moderate destruction over a very wide area as a function of distance ;

• 8.0 to 8.9 Earthquake capable of major destruction over a very large area of several hundred kilometers ;

• Above 9 Earthquake able to destroy everything in a very large area.

See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-25616-haiti-flash-earthquake-in-the-north.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-25452-haiti-flash-earthquake-in-gonaives.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-25376-haiti-flash-earthquake-off-anse-a-veau.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-24948-haiti-flash-light-earthquake-south-of-gonaives.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-24365-haiti-flash-seismic-activities-of-unidentified-origin-in-the-central-plateau.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-24057-haiti-security-twenty-earthquakes-recorded-in-haiti-in-2018.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-23989-haiti-security-46-earthquake-off-haiti.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-23741-haiti-security-strengthening-of-the-seismic-monitoring-network.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-23292-haiti-flash-2-earthquakes-in-haiti.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-23223-haiti-flash-new-earthquake-in-haiti.html

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-23212-haiti-flash-earthquake-off-les-cayes.html

SL/ HaitiLibre