UWI Seismic Researchers Investigate Seabed Uplift After Venezuela Earthquakes

Scientists believe the powerful earthquakes that struck neighbouring Venezuela last week may also be responsible for a geological event along Trinidad's south-western coastline. Researchers are now investigating whether the tremors triggered the landslip that caused part of the seabed at Galfa, Cedros, to rise above the waterline. Geologist at the UWI Seismic Research Centre, Kafele Reddock, said the investigation follows the two powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24th. While the neighbouring country suffered widespread devastation, Trinidad escaped without any significant impact except, experts believe, through this unusual geological change along the Cedros coastline. "We're running with a hypothesis that the landslide was triggered by the Venezuelan earthquakes. We believe, because of the unique geological conditions along the south coast of Trinidad, related to the southern anticline, there are many mud volcanoes in the south, and in this area in particular, there are quite a few related to this Galfa area, and because of the mud volcanoes, there's fluid near the surface right in this area." Mr Reddock said the landslip appears to have pushed part of the seabed upwards. The team is using drone surveys and preliminary seismic testing to determine whether the evidence supports its working theory. "Since we had such large events in Venezuela, it would shift the stress regime in and around Trinidad because the faults that produce the earthquakes in Venezuela are connected to the faults in Trinidad, and so because of that shift in the stress regime, we would be getting a lot of small earthquakes in and around Trinidad to balance back out that increasing stress in Trinidad area." The fieldwork is expected to help scientists better understand the geological conditions at the site. Once the investigation is complete, the findings will be analysed before being documented in scientific reports.