00:00The powerful earthquake that struck off Venezuela's coast sent shockwaves across the region,
00:06leaving visible damage along parts of south Trinidad's coastline in Cedrus.
00:10While geologists continue assessing the coastal changes,
00:14seismologist Dr. Joanne Luchman says the earthquake likely triggered underwater movement that resulted in shoreline damage.
00:22These waves coming across, and in a very short time space, they would have increased the stress on that area
00:32with that mud
00:34and produced this landslide, going by what our geologist is thinking at this time,
00:42and then would very quickly have slid down, met an obstruction, and pushed up very quickly.
00:51Dr. Luchman explains that earthquakes are a natural consequence of the movement of tectonic plates beneath the Earth's surface.
00:59She says while the event may appear unusual, it reflects the ongoing geological processes that continue to shape the region.
01:07The plate tectonics process is ongoing and continuing, and we do not expect that earthquakes, we will stop having earthquakes.
01:20If we stop having earthquakes, then we will get, if we stop recording earthquakes at the Seismic Research Center,
01:27we will get very troubled, because quiescence in the earthquake activity is an indication that something bigger is coming.
01:37According to Dr. Luchman, seismic activity is a normal feature of life in Trinidad and Tobago,
01:43and the focus should not be on predicting earthquakes, but on reducing their impact.
01:48Engineers have done research into structures that can be built to be earthquake resistant,
01:57and our engineers, they are responsible in that regard, and the structures in which engineers are involved in their building,
02:05they would apply those techniques to their construction.
02:11The homeowners, residents, people here, citizens, they can learn what to do before, during, and after an earthquake.
02:24That, she says, begins with stronger building standards, greater public awareness, and better disaster planning.
02:31We really should legislate our building codes, so that our new structures can be built to be earthquake resistant.
02:41We really should have a disaster preparedness office, where the staff people there have continuity of service,
02:53that the experienced people continue to be there, and to be able to advise and put the necessary measures in
03:02place for us to be prepared as a country.
03:05Sharla Kistel, TV6 News.
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