Crumble in the Jungle

Pimex-Commissioned Study Reveals Cracks in Seismic Contingency Plans
Editor’s note: This report was first published on Dec. 9, 2021, issue of Caribbean Business.
Subscribe here to read about the most important developments of the week.
It would be easy to think that after the swarm of earthquakes that shook southwest Puerto Rico in the first months of 2020 the government of Puerto Rico, learned a lesson from the Three Kings Day tremor and is now ready to quickly act out their plan ahead of the next seismic event.
A study commissioned by the Puerto Rico Manufacturing Extension (Primex), “Puerto Rico’s 2020 Earthquakes: Impact and Strategies of Small and Medium-Sized Manufacturers in Communities under Continuing Distress,” suggests otherwise; the issue of preparing commercial infrastructure for earthquakes [has not been] addressed with the urgency needed before another major earthquake strikes.
Beginning in 2020, the southwestern area of Puerto Rico was hit hard by a swarm of earthquakes, including 11 that were magnitude 5 or greater on the Richter scale. The largest and most damaging of this series were two that struck Jan. 6 and 7 with magnitudes 5.8 and 6.4, respectively.
The latter is considered the worst on the island since the 7.1 magnitude San Fermín earthquake in 1918 triggered a tsunami. And then, on Jan. 11 last year, there was also an aftershock that registered at 5.9 magnitude.
By mid-January, reportedly more than 8,000 people were left homeless and some 40,000 were camping outside in Ponce, the island’s second-largest city. And although human and infrastructure losses are usually given more importance when talking about the impact of earthquakes, the truth is that an event of such magnitude has repercussions on all aspects of society, including a direct effect on the economy of the impacted location, as well as on the mental health of its residents, the study on last year’s earthquakes in the southwest reveals.

Subscribe here to read about the most important developments of the week.
Related Posts
Latest News
-
Being Vigilant of the 7 Benchmarks to end 2022
We are just about to end the fourth quarter of...
- Posted November 22, 2022
-
Inflation Heading Down, What Happens Now?
The Four Benchmarks to review that confirm inflation may be...
- Posted November 14, 2022
-
The Six Factors to Expect during the end of 4Q22
We are deep within the fourth quarter we thought it...
- Posted November 10, 2022
-
Puerto Rico Banks Deliver strong earnings, beating most banks
Puerto Rico Banks Transformed their operational model The Puerto Rico...
- Posted November 9, 2022
-
US Congress Discrimination affecting the Puerto Rico’s Healthcare Ecosystem
The market dynamics that changed the Healthcare Ecosystem as we...
- Posted November 8, 2022
-
MCS contributes over $5 million to support member healthcare
The insurer distributed the amount among 409 community pharmacies in...
- Posted November 7, 2022
-
Droguería Betances Launches 60th Anniversary Ad Campaign
Droguería Betances has launched a new advertising campaign, “60 Reasons...
- Posted October 31, 2022
-
Puerto Rico Food Industry Helps Communities in Aftermath of Hurricane Fiona
Over three-quarters of a million dollars in aid to...
- October 24, 2022
-
Medplus Solutions celebrates 10 years Saving Lives
Innovation and continuous growth Expansion of specialized and more...
- May 18, 2022
-
Amazon Web Services Expands Operations in Puerto Rico
Local Office Will Offer Services to other Caribbean Islands...
- April 22, 2022
-
García Padilla: Rubio Is No Friend of Puerto Rico
Governor Says Rubio's Remarks Confirm he Works for 'Vultures'
- February 26, 2016
- 15
You must be logged in to post a comment Login