On the afternoon of 14 January 1907, a powerful earthquake struck Kingston, Jamaica, forever altering the course of the city’s history. Measuring 6.5 on the Richter Scale, the quake unleashed devastation at approximately 3:30 pm, claiming the lives of nearly 1,000 people and causing material damage estimated at $30 million (equivalent to $823.18 million in 2025). The earthquake, one of the deadliest of its time, also triggered a tsunami with waves between six and eight feet in height, compounding the destruction.
In recounting the immediate aftermath and the profound emotional impact of the earthquake, author William Ralph Hall Caine vividly described the scene:
“At 3:32 Kingston was happy and well. At 3:33 the city was a hopeless wreck, with the very sun itself obscured from our vision. All man’s handiwork of a generation, nay a whole century or more, was instantly flouted. A whole community lay in ruins and in tears, in suffering and in death.”
Unimaginable Destruction
The impact on Kingston was catastrophic. Every building in the city sustained damage, with 85 percent destroyed in the warehouse and business districts. Fires ignited by the quake raged uncontrollably for three days, further ravaging the already shattered city. Across the island, areas such as Buff Bay and Annotto Bay also suffered significant destruction. The disaster rendered 10,000 people homeless, and in Port Maria, a suspension bridge was reduced to rubble. The tsunami reached Jamaica’s north coast, with a maximum height of eight feet, causing flooding in Hope Bay, Port Antonio, Saint Ann’s Bay, and other towns.
“The heightening roar is of eternal memory — it was as though some vast herd of tigers, with warm blood already on their tongues, had been suddenly robbed of their prey”.
The Earthquake and Its Aftershocks
The main shock lasted 35 seconds, accompanied by a deafening roar. Minor tremors preceded the event, and 80 aftershocks were recorded by 5 February, with the strongest occurring on 25 February. Unfortunately, the only seismograph on the island ceased functioning during the earthquake, leaving the precise epicentre undetermined. It is believed to have been located along the South Coast Fault Zone, within the Wagwater Belt, or possibly in the Blue Mountains. Areas built on loose sands and gravels experienced the most intense shaking, with sandblows, surface faulting, and flooding reported east of Kingston and in the Palisadoes.
Amidst the chaos, the passenger steamer “Port Kingston”, undergoing repairs in Kingston Harbour, narrowly escaped destruction. Temporary repairs enabled the ship to move away from a fire raging at a nearby wharf. In the aftermath, the vessel was repurposed as a floating hospital, with care extended to the adjoining wharf. The Kingston Public Hospital, despite losing its water supply, continued to provide medical assistance around the clock. Relief arrived on 17 January, with three United States warships bringing essential supplies and support.
A Devastating Geological Phenomenon
Jamaica’s geological positioning in a complex fault zone between the Gonâve Microplate and the Caribbean Plate underpins its seismic vulnerability. The Enriquillo–Plantain Garden Fault Zone to the east and the Walton Fault Zone to the west are major sinistral strike-slip faults that define the island’s tectonic environment, leaving it prone to such catastrophic events.
A Lasting Legacy of Resilience
The Kingston earthquake of 1907 remains a sombre chapter in Jamaica’s history. While the loss and suffering it brought are immeasurable, the resilience of the Jamaican people shines through in the face of adversity, offering a poignant reminder of human strength and solidarity in times of unimaginable hardship.
Photo provide to Jamaicans.com by the family of Dr. John deMercado
