Haiti recorded over 60 earthquakes in May

Haiti recorded over 60 earthquakes ranging in magnitudes between 1.1 and 3.3 on the Richter scale during May.

According to observations made from networks based in Cuba, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic, 63 earthquakes had a magnitude less than or equal to three and 25 occurred at a depth less than or equal to 10 kilometres.

Of the earthquakes, 20 occurred at sea with seven taking place along the northern fault — this meant that there was a risk of a tsunami if the conditions had been met.

The data pointed out that the four departments where the most earthquakes occurred were in the northwest, which had 21 earthquakes; the west with 18 earthquakes, the Nippes recorded 10 earthquakes and the southeast recorded seven.

Haiti is susceptible to earthquakes as it sits on a fault line between huge tectonic plates.

These two plates are the North American plate and the Caribbean plate.

SOURCE: CMC