Recent seismic activity around Trinidad and Tobago highlights why earthquake preparedness should not begin after the shaking starts.
Residents of Trinidad and Tobago may have noticed several earthquakes occurring around our region in recent weeks.
According to the University of the West Indies Seismic Research Centre (UWI-SRC), a number of earthquakes have been recorded close to Trinidad and Tobago during August 2026.
Recent events include a magnitude 4.6 earthquake approximately 84 km west of Port of Spain on August 27, a magnitude 4.0 approximately 60 km northwest of Port of Spain on August 24, and several smaller events around Trinidad and Tobago. Earlier, on August 12, a stronger event occurred east of Carúpano, Venezuela, approximately 114 km west of Port of Spain.
This activity should not be interpreted as a prediction that a major earthquake is about to occur.
It should, however, serve as a useful reminder:
Trinidad and Tobago is earthquake country.
Why Does Trinidad and Tobago Experience Earthquakes?
Trinidad and Tobago sits within a geologically complex part of the Caribbean.
Trinidad lies near the actively deforming southeastern corner of the Caribbean Plate and the northeastern margin of the South American Plate. As these large sections of the Earth's crust interact, stresses accumulate and are periodically released as earthquakes.
Earthquakes are therefore not unusual events for our country.
Some are too small to be noticed by most people. Others may produce noticeable shaking across parts of Trinidad and Tobago.
And occasionally, our region experiences much stronger events.
We Have Experienced Significant Earthquakes Before
History gives us good reason to take the hazard seriously.
One of the most memorable recent examples occurred on 21 August 2018, when a magnitude 6.9 earthquake affected Trinidad and Tobago. It was followed by numerous aftershocks, including a magnitude 6.0 event the following day. Fortunately, there were no reported deaths or serious injuries associated with the event.
But our seismic history extends much further back.
The UWI Seismic Research Centre records significant historical earthquakes around Trinidad, including an estimated magnitude 7.9 event in 1766 north of the Paria Peninsula which caused severe destruction in Trinidad's then-capital, San José.
The lesson is not that we should expect another earthquake of that magnitude tomorrow.
The lesson is that earthquakes are a genuine natural hazard in Trinidad and Tobago and preparedness is sensible.
Can We Predict the Next Earthquake?
No.
This is particularly important whenever earthquake activity begins attracting attention on social media.
Scientists currently cannot reliably predict the exact date, time, location and magnitude of an earthquake.
The UWI Seismic Research Centre has specifically cautioned against earthquake predictions and emphasizes that the Eastern Caribbean, including Trinidad and Tobago, is a seismically active region that will continue experiencing earthquakes of varying magnitudes.
Claims that somebody knows a major earthquake will occur on a particular day should therefore be treated with considerable skepticism.
Preparedness should be based on the existence of the hazard — not predictions circulating on WhatsApp or social media.
What Should You Do During an Earthquake?
If you are indoors when strong shaking begins, the basic advice is:
DROP
Get down onto your hands and knees before the shaking knocks you down.
COVER
Protect your head and neck and, where possible, shelter underneath a strong table or desk.
HOLD ON
Hold onto your shelter and remain protected until the shaking stops.
The UWI Seismic Research Centre recommends practicing Drop, Cover and Hold On at home, school and work so that the response becomes familiar before an actual emergency.
Do not rush toward exits while strong shaking is occurring.
Many earthquake injuries are caused not by the ground itself but by falling objects, broken glass, collapsing fixtures and people attempting to move during violent shaking.
What About If You're Outside?
Move away from buildings, walls, utility poles, power lines and other objects that could fall.
Once you reach a reasonably clear area, remain there until the shaking stops.
If you are driving, reduce speed carefully and stop somewhere safe where possible, avoiding bridges, power lines and structures that could present additional hazards.
After the shaking stops, remain alert for damaged roads, fallen electrical lines and other hazards.
After the Earthquake
The end of the shaking does not necessarily mean the emergency is over.
Aftershocks can follow a significant earthquake.
Buildings and infrastructure may also have been weakened.
Check yourself and those around you for injuries before attempting unnecessary movement.
Be alert for hazards such as damaged electrical wiring, gas leaks, unstable structures, fallen objects and broken glass.
Avoid entering seriously damaged buildings until they have been assessed.
And keep communications brief.
Prepare Before You Need To
A useful household emergency kit does not need to resemble a military supply depot.
Start with practical essentials.
Keep drinking water, non-perishable food, necessary medications, a first-aid kit, flashlights, spare batteries, basic hygiene supplies and copies of important information somewhere accessible.
A battery-powered radio can also provide information if Internet and cellular services become unavailable.
Power banks should normally be kept charged.
Families should also discuss where they would meet if separated and how they would contact one another if normal communications become difficult.
The best emergency kit is ultimately the one you actually maintain and know how to use.
Communications After an Earthquake
Major earthquakes can create communications problems even when telecommunications infrastructure remains physically intact.
Thousands of people attempting to make calls simultaneously can overload networks.
Power failures can affect cellular sites, Internet equipment and household routers.
This is one reason communications redundancy matters.
Mobile phones and Internet services should absolutely be used when available — they are extraordinarily capable systems.
But emergency preparedness should never assume that one communications system will always work.
Alternative information sources, battery-powered equipment and independent radio communications can provide additional resilience.
Where REACT Fits In
Communications have always been central to the mission of REACT.
REACT Team 6006 works to develop trained radio operators and communications capabilities that can provide an additional resource during community activities, emergencies and disasters.
Our role is not to replace Trinidad and Tobago's professional emergency services or emergency-management organizations.
Rather, volunteer communications organizations can provide additional people, equipment and communications capability when appropriate.
An earthquake affecting telecommunications, transportation or electrical infrastructure is exactly the type of scenario that demonstrates why communications preparedness matters.
For us, preparedness therefore includes not only having radios available but understanding their coverage, maintaining equipment, developing operators, practicing communications procedures and considering how systems can continue functioning when normal infrastructure is disrupted.
Preparedness, Not Panic
A period of noticeable earthquake activity naturally gets people's attention.
That is not a reason to panic.
It is a reason to prepare.
We cannot prevent earthquakes, and at present we cannot predict exactly when the next significant earthquake will occur.
What we can control is how prepared our homes, workplaces, communities and volunteer organizations are when one eventually does.
Know what to do.
Secure obvious hazards around your home.
Maintain basic emergency supplies.
Keep important equipment charged.
Have a family communications plan.
Know Drop, Cover and Hold On.
And get your information from reliable sources.
For authoritative information about earthquakes affecting Trinidad and Tobago, the UWI Seismic Research Centre maintains current regional earthquake information and an interactive earthquake map.
UWI Seismic Research Centre – Latest Earthquakes
Earthquakes cannot be predicted. Preparedness can be planned.