The 1907 and 1957 Jamaica Earthquakes

The 1907 and 1957 Jamaica Earthquakes. . , The 1907 Earthquake , Port Royal , On January 14, 1907 at about 3:30 a.m. a severe earthquake occurred which affected the Kingston-Port Royal area. In Port Royal the shock caused the still standing walls of the sunken city to collapse. The most visible on-land effect is that which affected the Victoria and Albert Battery. The batty and approaching tunnels sank at the time of the earthquake causing the vents to fill in with sand. The Royal Artillery Store tilted at its present precarious angle earning the nickname of the "Giddy House.", Kingston , Kingston in particular, experienced one of its worst earthquakes. Without warning a series of shocks lasting less than a minute destroyed most of the city. Added to the devastation, was a fire that raged for about four (4) days. The fire hampered rescue operations and completed the destruction of the city. , At the end of the day, more than 800 persons had died and property valued at some two million pounds sterling laid in ruins., The 1957 Earthquake , During the March 1, 1957 earthquake Port Royal lost an 8 by 600 foot long piece of land at the southern shore. This broke off and disappeared as the sea swept in. A few walls of the town were cracked but there were no casualties. , "One Port Royal citizen Mr. Betram Hall, District Officer, was fishing at that section of beach and ran as his catch, tackle and jacket vanished. Others who were fishing nearby fled as score of persons in the town ran from their rocking homes, many remembering that most of the ancient town had been swallowed up in the earthquake of 1692." The Daily Gleaner March 4, 1957, Captions: , The Albert Battery , Royal Artillery Store "Giddy House." , Courtesy of the Gleaner 1907 , Mico Collage (sic, College) after the earthquake Courtesy of the Gleaner 1907