Labour Ministry Assessing Earthquake Damage in Clarendon

Delroy Palmer, Clarendon Parish Manager for the Ministry of Labour and Social Security has said that assessment of earthquake damage would continue until the end of the week and a report submitted to head office in Kingston for assistance to be organized.
Some 23 families in North Clarendon are said to have suffered property loss or damage from the earthquake, which was felt throughout the island last Sunday night (June 12).
The epicenter of the earthquake, which measured 5.1 on the Richter scale, was located in the Aenon Town Community in Northwest Clarendon.
Meanwhile, Member of Parliament for the constituency Richard Azan, addressing a meeting of the Clarendon Parish Disaster Committee on June 14, said that of the 23 homes affected, one was completely destroyed, three others were severely damaged, while the remaining 17 families experienced minor damage to their properties.
“I think we are the ones (in northwest Clarendon) who got the hardest hit.for those that experienced severe damage the structures were not good, they are old time houses.but I would appeal that whatever this Committee can do to help, especially those four families, would be appreciated, ” he said.
He commended the representatives from the Ministry of Labour and Social Security (MLSS), the Poor Relief Department of the Clarendon Parish Council and the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) for their quick response in visiting the sites.
In response to the appeal for assistance, Poor Relief Manager Patricia Anderson said that plans were made to rent a dwelling space for the family, whose house was destroyed, however subsequent contact with the family revealed that they were comfortably placed with relatives and will be seeking to rebuild later.