'Quake exposes Jamaica' - seismologist

Bloomberg: THE MAGNITUDE 7.0 earthquake that occurred in Haiti may increase the likelihood of a future quake in Jamaica, according to seismologists who study geologic risk.

"When aftershocks subside in the coming weeks, Haiti's prospects of another earthquake will plummet, while areas west along the same fault line will see increased seismic pressure," said Stuart Sipkin, a seismologist at the US Geological Survey in Golden, Colorado.

"It could take decades or a century for the pressure to rupture on the western edge of the fault in Jamaica," he said.

Roger Musson, who advises engineers on regional dangers for the British Geological Survey, noted that a similar quake flattened the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince about 240 years ago.

"In Haiti, there's not been earthquakes in living memory; now it's likely that the stress will be increased on the next segment along," Musson said.