Lawd have mercy, the earth decide fi give we a serious shake-up yesterday, and it leave whole heap a people inna a state a shock. People right across the Eastern Caribbean get a proper fright when a massive earthquake, measuring bout 6.0 magnitude, start gwaan with itself deep under the sea. It neva just a likkle tremble either; this one did have some real weight behind it. From Antigua go straight down to Guadeloupe, the whole place was a rock and a roll like a heavy-duty sound system at a street dance.
The scientists dem over at the U.S. Geological Survey seh the quake happen deep down, bout 32 kilometer below the surface a the ocean. Even though the epicenter was out inna the blue water, the vibration dem travel fast and hard through the Caribbean Sea. People inna Saint Kitts and Nevis, Montserrat, and even Dominica feel the vibes. Some people seh dem was just a relax or a do dem likkle business when the house start groan and the zinc fence dem start rattle like someone a throw stone pon dem.
Imagine you deh inna your bed or a cook a pot a food, and all of a sudden, the floor start move like it turn into water. Some people jump out a dem skin and run out a door, 'cause you know how the thing set—you nuh wait fi house fall pon you. Dem seh the shaking lasted for a good few seconds, and even though it sound short when you talk bout it, when the earth a move beneath your foot, every second feel like a whole hour. The kitchen cupboard dem start rattle and the dog dem inna the yard start howl like dem see duppy.
The good news inna all this madness is that so far, we noh hear bout no big-time damage or nobody get hurt bad. But you know how Caribbean people stay already; once the ground shake, the WhatsApp group dem start fire and everybody a check in pon dem family and friends. It serve as a serious reminder seh we live inna a part a the world where Mother Nature can show her strength any time she feel like. We live pon the edge a these tectonic plates, and every now and then, dem haffi stretch and shift.
Now, even though this one pass and everybody a ketch dem breath, we haffi stay alert and keep we eyes open. These things usually have aftershocks, and you never know when the next likkle rumble might come round the corner. It important fi keep your emergency kit dem ready—make sure you have your torchlight, water, and likkle tin food inna a bag near the door. Most of all, we haffi look out fi the elders and the likkle pickney dem who might get shake up inna dem mind after a ting like this.
The Caribbean is a beautiful place, a true paradise, but the ground we walk pon have a mind of its own sometimes. Let we just give thanks seh it neva worse than it was and nobody lose dem life. Stay safe out deh, keep your head level, and make sure you check pon your neighbor dem, especially the ones who live lone. One love and stay protected till the earth decide fi calm itself down properly.
No comments:
Post a Comment