Geoscientist: Earthquake Induced Changes To Southern Coast Not A Cause For Concern
The devastating twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela last Wednesday have sent tremors beyond its borders, with southern Trinidad experiencing subtle yet striking changes along its shoreline.
At Cedros Beach and the Galfa area, videos reveal marine life washed ashore and sections of the ground slightly uplifted, raising alarm about how seismic activity across the region may be reshaping coastal landscapes.
Geoscientist and Exploration Manager at Touchstone Exploration, Xavier Moonan, underscored the urgent need for readiness following the deadly twin earthquakes.
« We need to be prepared that when an earthquake does happen in Trinidad, we need to know what to do in those few seconds when it is happening. »
He explained that although the Venezuelan quakes did not strike Trinidad directly, the transfer of seismic energy along faults may be revealing a different story about the island’s coastal landscape.
« The coastline itself would have shifted a bit southward. Just about a hundred feet. It’s not a huge impact, right? To the sea itself, literally just piece of the shoreline and piece of what would have been the seabed in that area was scooped out and lifted out of the water. »
Marine life was also caught up in the surge, left scattered along the shoreline. However, despite this abrupt change, Mr Moonan stressed that such coastal shifts are temporary.
« In the Los Iros area and other parts of the south coast of Trinidad, where areas along the south coast have collapsed and it would have temporarily changed the shape of the coastline, changed the height of the beach and stuff. Over time, the material that’s been lifted up out of the water and exposed now, that’s gonna weather over time, and the beach will eventually restore itself. »
Mr Moonan urged visitors to exercise caution when travelling to the area, noting that cracked roads, saturated soils, and rocks from recent heavy rainfall may be unstable.
« So if there’s quite a lot of rainfall, I would say stay away from the area. The area could become unstable again and continue to move. »
He noted that the seismic events serve as a reminder of the island’s vulnerability but also its resilience, adding that in the event of an earthquake, knowing what to do in those critical first seconds is key to protecting ourselves.
