Panic And Cries Take Over – Translation

NOTE: This is a translation from Primera Hora online newspaper, which was up on the web very early in the morning. There are a lot of similarities with each news article because the same politician was interviewed by different reporters.

This is the translation below:

Panic And Cries Take Over Those Who Felt The Strong Quake

Saturday, December 25, 2010

00:43 a.m.
Primera Hora

Panic took over lots of people at 7:44 yesterday on Friday, when an earthquake of 5.4 degrees on the Richter scale shook up structures and suddenly interrupted Christmas Eve‘s festivities.

The immediate reaction from some people were to screams and cries. Contrary to what experts recommend, there were many that trapped by panic and fear, stampeded their way outside buildings. 

Luis Rivera from Manatí was inside a church when the benches started to shake with quite a force. Accompanied by his wife and daughter, he saw how “many people, as they felt the earthquake took off and ran outside without thinking which one would be more dangerous. In my 45 years of age, I have never experienced an earthquake and it was truly very impressing.”

But Rivera was not the only one that felt the earth shake. Dozens of people in Hato Rey, Cayey, Aguas Buenas and Hatillo coincided with him when they witnessed a “very strong one.”

Luis Torres was on the 9th floor of an Isla Verde condo in Carolina, when panic took over all the people that started to feel their floor shake. “Everything shook very strongly, there were people crying and some people screamed at the Lago Mar condominium.”

But not even politicians were saved to go through the same experience. Kenneth McClintock, Secretary of State, was enjoying a party in a Caguas residence when the earthquake happened. “Everybody moved to the entrance of the house and they waited for it to end,” he said.

For others, the experience was more dramatic. “The floor looked like Jell-O. In my restaurant Gran Meliá, pans fell over,”, explained Myrta Pérez Toledo, the restaurant’s chef. In Luquillo the tremor was felt very strongly.” This experience was very similar to Madeline Batista in Naguabo, who didn’t doubt at all that “the house shook horribly.”

Another resident of Naguabo, Yaliah, indicated that she was with her kids watching TV when all of a sudden she heard the Christmas decorations on their tree started to move. At first she thought that it was their (ceiling) fan, but afterwards she felt the floor shake. Next, her six year-old started to cry and run looking for his father.  

I forgot everything I learned when it came to safety, and I started to look out the windows to see if I heard anybody scream, and I was surprised to see my neighbors dance with their loud music and they kept going on, so I went out to tell them.”

A resident of Arecibo didn’t have a good time either. “First it was something that felt quite light, but afterwards it got a lot stronger,” she said. She was in the living room when she was on her couch and she felt the vibrations; “It was a horrifying sensation.”

At the end, thanks to God, there are no deaths to report and everything remained a great scare that for sure will be the topic of many parties and family reunions. 

Related Articles

• 5.4-magnitude quake shakes Puerto Rico; no damage reported (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• 5.4-magnitude quake shakes PR; no damage reported (sfgate.com)
• 5.4-Magnitude Quake Shakes Puerto Rico (time.com)
• 5.4-Magnitude Quake Shakes PR; No Damage Reported (time.com)

5.4 Quake degrees Richter felt on the island

Note: This is a translation of today’s Primera Hora newspaper.  All translations that I have posted are from Puerto Rico’s media. I fix grammar  as the online translation is not 100% accurate.

5.4 Quake degrees Richter felt on the island

Friday, December 24, 2010

Updated 11 hours ago

(created 07: 56 PM)

 

Primera Hora

 

A strong tremor of a 5.4  Richter scale was recorded at 7:43 PM yesterday in most of the island without any reports of serious damage to structures or deaths related to the earthquake.

 

The epicentre of the strong earthquake occurred in 18.47 latitude and length 66.17, 30 miles north of San Juan, indicated the Seismic Network. “To be 5.4 degrees, it should be considered as a weak earthquake or a strong tremor “, explained Acevedo.

 

“Send us photos and data if you felt the earthquake,” said the Director of the Seismic Network of Puerto Rico, Victor Orphan.  He also confirmed that the size of the quake was on a 5.4 scale degrees Richter, since it was initially reported as a 5.1.

 

“You have to stay calm.” Damage has not been reported. “When these phenomenas occur, we must be vigilant with the aftershakes and find a safe place where to protect ourselves,” stressed Acevedo.

 

For the whole population’s peace of mind, there is no threat of a tsunami, as confirmed by Puerto Rico Seismic Network.

 

Jacinto Desiderio, director of the  911 emergency system, said that shortly after the earthquake occurred, he received about 50 calls from different parts of the Island reporting the earthquake. However, he clarified that nobody reported any damages to their structures.

 

The same thing happened with Bayamon’s emergency system. We received multiple calls “but no” information on any damages, assured Migdalia Rivera,  Bayamón’s press officer.

 

On the same token Kenneth McClintock, Secretary of State, said that there was no  damage reported beyond “of a few broken glasses and structures in Guaynabo” which he failed to explain how serious it was.

 

The politician was enjoying an activity in a residence in Caguas when the earthquake came. The officer urged people to  instead of making phone calls, use text messaging in situations like this because the system collapsed momentarily.

 

The Director of Management Services from San Juan pointed out that “we have been proactive, so we have  enough staff” to meet any emergencies. In addition, San Juan’s Mayor, Jorge Santini, contacted San Juan’s Municipal Police and the emergency system in the capital.

 

Just like last time when thousands felt an earthquake in the island, Puerto Ricans took it to different social networks. “Humacao felt it and Dorado too”, expressed the “genesissl” user on Twitter. Similarly, residents of Arecibo, Las Piedras, Juncos, Caguas, Hatillo, Gurabo, San Juan commented on their fear to this emergency.

 

Primera Hora’s Facebook fans reacted the same. “This is scary”, commented Yvette López. Others preferred to make a group in this social network called “I felt a tremor in Christmas Eve 2010″.

Related Articles

• Earthquake shakes Puerto Rico (cnn.com)
• 5.4-Magnitude Quake Shakes Puerto Rico (time.com)
• 5.4-magnitude quake shakes Puerto Rico; no damage reported (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• 5.4-Magnitude Quake Shakes PR; No Damage Reported (time.com)

Minor Damages Reported In PR (Translation)

Minor damages reported

The AEMEAD had reports of several cracks and slight damage to properties, but will wait until daytime, so people can inspect and report additional cases.

By ELNUEVODIA.COM

 

The State Agency for Emergency Management (AEMEAD) reported early today that damages to several structures of the seismic event last night were minor, and those reported were in a few municipalities.

 

Similarly Heriberto Saurí,  the executive director, urged citizens to prepare or review their emergency plans to be safe in circumstances such as last night’s.

A large part of virtually all Puerto Rico flooded social networks and media for comments and feedback on the earthquake registered at 7:43 pm, which was later reported as 5.4 on the Richter scale intensity and its epicenter at 16 kilometres southwest of San Juan, and Aguas Buenas cities.

 

According to Saurí, so far the damages happened in Trujillo Alto, Fajardo, San Juan, Guaynabo, Humacao, San Lorenzo and Naranjito, but hoped that during the morning, the population can report more accurately if their properties were damaged during the telluric event.

 

“We have been in communication with our staff all over our 11 zones, who in turn have communicated with each town’s municipal managers to perform an analysis of any damages as a result of the earthquake,” said Saurí through a press release issued by the AEMEAD.

 

Saurí stressed that there have been no reports of people injured or affected by the earthquake.

 

Melina Simeonides, AEMEAD’s  press spokeswoman, argued that damage information has continued to be updated throughout the day, as people corroborate if there was really any damage to report them to government agencies.

 

Saurí, for his part, indicated 11 operational areas of their agency will continue to work 12-hour shifts to help citizens if necessary.

 

Events like this stress the importance to review emergency drills with  families and individuals in the case of an earthquake, and suggested that at Christmas time it may be the best time to make a plan and practice it.

 

“Those who haven’t, do it now so that the family can be safe during the holiday season.” It is very important to have family plans and on each community, and have on hand the Municipal Offices of Emergency Management’s  (OMME in Spanish) phone numbers “, concluded Saurí.

Related Articles

• 5.4-magnitude quake shakes Puerto Rico; no damage reported (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• 5.4-magnitude quake shakes PR; no damage reported (sfgate.com)
• 5.4-Magnitude Quake Shakes PR; No Damage Reported (time.com)
• Earthquake shakes Puerto Rico (cnn.com)

Part Of Airport Ceiling Collapsed During PR Earthquake

This translation to English is from Primera Hora online newspaper, which is a follow-up online article and shows some damage at the airport, which is minimal.

According to news 24/7 (Channel 6), part of the ceiling airport area collapsed. (Supplied)5.4 Quake degrees Richter feels on the island

Friday, December 24, 2010

Updated 50 minutes ago

(created 07: 56 PM)

Primera Hora

 

A strong tremor 5.4 on the  Richter scale was felt this evening across much of the island, causing panic on part of the population. So far, no reported damage to structures or deaths related to the earthquake.

 

Carlos Acevedo, director of management of emergency in San Juan, confirmed to first time strong tremor intensity “taking into account that in five degrees is considered an earthquake.” “I was in the North where the stronger earthquakes felt”, he added.

 

Panic seized some people to feel the earthquake. As explains Luis Rivera of Manatí, was “in church when my wife, my daughter and I feel the tremors.”  Either strong as to feel the floor vibrate, banks and churches shook up and they were extremely strong. Many people felt the earthquake ran without thinking that it would be even more dangerous. “In my 45 years (old) had never felt a tremor for Christmas Eve and wow, the truth is that it was impressive.”

 

Send us photos and data if you felt these earthquake. But Riveras’ tremor wasn’t the only one who was felt. The earthquake was felt in much of the island. People who were in Hato Rey, Cayey, Aguas Buenas and people as distant as Hatillo, assured first time telluric movement felt “good strong”.

 

The case of Luis Torres, was similar to what other people have reported. It was in the ninth floor of a condominium in Isla Verde floor when “all trembled strong, there were crying and some screams in condominium “Lago Mar”. But as if outside was little, Torres also lost the signal from their cell phone company, once the earthquake started. “Now he’s able to access AT & T. “The signal comes and goes, he added.

 

The epicentre of the strong earthquake occurred in 18.47 latitude and length 66.17, 30 miles north of San Juan, indicated the seismic network. “To be 5.4″ treated like an earthquake weak or strong tremor “, explained Acevedo.”

Victor, director of the seismic network of Puerto Rico and he also ensured that the size of the quake is 5.4 scale degrees Richter already was that initially reported was 5.1.

 

“You have to stay calm.” Damage has not been. great. “These phenomena that always happen, they must be vigilant to the replicas and verify all the safe places where people can protect themselves,” stressed Acevedo.

For peace of mind of the whole population there is no threat of tsunami, ensures the Puerto Rico seismic network.

 

Jacinto Desiderio, director of the emergency 911 system, reported that shortly after the earthquake occurred about 50 calls citizens of different people’s around the Island that reported movement on their areas. However, he clarified that nobody reported damage to structures.

 

Almost the same thing happened with emergency system. Bayamón received multiple calls but no one reported damage, assured Migdalia Rivera, Bayamon’s spokeperson.

 

Similarly, Kenneth McClintock, Secretary of State, said that no reported damage beyond “of a few broken glasses and structures in Guaynabo” which he failed to explain how the impact was affected.

 

The politician was enjoying an activity in a residence in Caguas when he felt the tremor. “Everyone moved to the door of the house and waited to for that to end”, recounted. The advantage to alert citizens, instead of making phone calls and use text messaging in situations like this, since the system collapsed momentarily. If this were an actual emergency, the system would collapse the by the incredible number of phone calls.

 

The Director of Management Of Emergencies from San Juan pointed out that proactively “we have enabled enough staff” to meet any emergency. In addition, San Juan’s Mayor, Jorge Santini, triggered the municipal police and the emergency system on the capital, he added.

 

Similar to last time when many felt a tremor in the island, Puerto Ricans reacted in a viral way in social networks. “Humacao felt it and Dorado too”, expressed the user on Twitter. Similarly, residents of Arecibo, Las Piedras, Juncos, Caguas, Hatillo, Gurabo, San Juan commented that felt fear to the emergency.

 

By Facebook, Primera Hora fans reacted equally. “This is scary”, commented Yvette Lopez. Others preferred to make a group in this social network called “Sentí terremoto”

Good night, 2010!

Testimony Of Earthquake On Christmas Eve

This is a translation to English from one of the journalists/editor of the newspaper Primera Hora.

A tremor wasn’t expected as welcome Christmas and less just days after having started my holiday gift. But when nature intends to send their messages, it chooses very special moments to remind us that in truth is what she that sends.

 

What happened this eve I will never forget. It may be nonsense for some. Only a scare for others. Or perhaps could be seen as an event without significance when compared to a catastrophic earthquake. Now, that I cannot deny is the emotional jolt and anguish that I felt those split seconds that were enough to reactivate my instincts and let me clear that the possibility of a major natural disaster is always around the corner.

 

The earthquake I got totally without any defense. It was preparing the Christmas dinner, my usual hobby when, suddenly, all felt an effect like a shock wave. Soon all the house began to shake violently. My mother cried that that was an earthquake and tried to run away, but the door did not open, even though my wife tried to. I don’t know how many seconds lasted, what can I do confess is that to ourselves it did seem us like an eternity. Minutes long, as if the clock hands revolutionary dense pitch.

 

My niece and my son, who have 12 and 11 years old, respectively, began to cry. Nerves seized all and adrenaline began to flow. Fortunately the house is wooden and my wife started to calm down, since the possibility of a disaster were minimal.

 

Then phone started to ring. All called to ask if we felt the shaking. My sisters, my “comadre,” my co-workers, all were activated to let them know our point of view of what was happening. And that is not for less, because the power of the phenomenon was shocking.

 

In the end, with calm nerves began jokes how, for a few seconds, all of us were seated without taking seriously what was happening. This time those seconds not counted for nothing, but we learned the lesson that if this event would have been more convincing, we could have been in serious danger.

 

Optimistic practitioner I would like to think that this coup was a gift from nature to all of us. Thus, in their own way, she told us not let our guard off and that the disaster we can become just at the moment in which most safe and happy we are.

Puerto Rico’s Earthquake On Christmas Eve-Translation

San Juan's beautiful sunset

An earthquake of 4.7 scale on the Mercalli scale shook Puerto Rico‘s northern area, as reported by the “Red Sísmica de Puerto Rico.” The earthquake was felt in San Juan‘s metropolitan area, Puerto Rico’s North and East and there are no report of damages nor victims.

The earthquake was located at latitude 18.4 North, 66.17 West, at about 7:43 ET tonight. On the Richter scale, as reports come from the United States Geological Service, the earthquake was a 5.4 degree.  The epicenter was located at 55 kilometers north of northeast of the city of Levittown.  Yesterday there was another earthquake reported but on a minor scale, of a 3.4 Richter scale by the Mona Passage. 

Due to the earthquake, cellphone services were interrupted momentarily.  Social networks flooded with messages related to this earthquake. In Humacao, people reported that at the Walmart store at Palma Real Shopping Center, bottles and other items fell off the shelves.