Live seismic activity in Jamaica — updated every 60 seconds from USGS data. Jamaica lies on the northern boundary of the Caribbean Plate, with active strike-slip faults causing moderate earthquakes.
Jamaica lies on the northern boundary of the Caribbean Plate, with the Enriquillo-Plantain Garden fault zone running through the island. The 1692 Port Royal earthquake destroyed much of the city and caused a tsunami. The 1907 Kingston earthquake (M6.5) killed over 1,000 people. Major faults include the Enriquillo-Plantain Garden fault, the Duanvale fault, and the South Coast fault. Notable quakes include 1692 Port Royal (M7.5), 1907 Kingston (M6.5), 2024 Jamaica (M5.1). The seismic risk is moderate to high. Tectonically, Jamaica lies on the Caribbean Plate, with strike-slip motion along the plate boundary with the North American Plate. This page provides real‑time USGS data and historical context for Jamaica.
The region is defined by Enriquillo-Plantain Garden fault, Duanvale fault, South Coast fault, and the risk level is classified as Moderate to High. With a population of 2.9 million, understanding local seismic hazards is crucial.
Jamaica lies on Strike-slip boundary – Caribbean Plate sliding past North American Plate. The movement of these plates builds up stress, which is released as earthquakes. In subduction zones, one plate dives beneath another, generating some of the largest quakes on Earth. In some regions, strike‑slip faults produce frequent moderate earthquakes.
The strongest recorded earthquake in Jamaica was the 1692 Port Royal earthquake (M7.5). 1692 Port Royal (M7.5)
Jamaica experiences low to moderate seismic activity, with occasional felt earthquakes, according to USGS historical data.
The most recent major earthquake in Jamaica was the 1692 Port Royal earthquake (M7.5). 1692 Port Royal (M7.5)
Yes. Jamaica is crossed by Enriquillo-Plantain Garden fault, Duanvale fault, South Coast fault, making it prone to seismic activity. The seismic risk level is classified as Moderate to High.
Drop, cover, and hold on. Stay away from windows, and if outdoors, move to an open area. After the shaking stops, check for injuries and be ready for aftershocks. Prepare an emergency kit with water, food, first aid, and a flashlight.
Data sources: USGS real‑time feed, USGS historical archive, and Wikipedia. Page refreshes live earthquake data every 60 seconds.