Two earthquakes shook the country yesterday leaving no injuries or measurable damage. The first, with a magnitude of 4.6 on the Richter scale, occurred at 2:30 pm and was felt in Santiago. The epicenter was located near the community of Nagua. At 8:04 pm, residents on the south side of the island, including Santo Domingo, felt a slightly stronger quake -- 5.3 on the Richter scale. The epicenter of the second quake was said to be between Yamasa and Bonao.

The latest aftershock of the 22 September earthquake hit Santiago and Puerto Plata at 6:35pm yesterday, measuring 4.8 on the Richter scale. Although no damage has been reported, Radhames Lora Salcedo, the director of the Civil Defense and president of the Emergency Operations Center, said that the shocks are likely to continue and so people should "develop seismic awareness." This latest tremor was the third strongest since 22 September. As many as 300 aftershocks have been recorded, most of which were minor.

Scotiabank announced it will make a donation of US$1.1 million to the Puerto Plata chapter of the Dominican Rehabilitation Association, the San Antonio Maria Claret Asylum Society and the Santiago Industrial Polytechnic Institute, all of which were gravely affected by the seismic events that took place in the northern region of the country last month. As a company with more than 83 years in the country, we want to offer support to those that have been affected, said Scotiabank manager Jim Meek.

Around noon on Sunday 26 October two aftershocks, ranging from 3.9 to 4.4 on the Richter scale, took place in the community of Tobagua in Puerto Plata, on the northern region of the country, near the epicenter of the earthquake that shook the region last September 22. General Radhames Lora form the Emergency Operations center said that there were no damages following the aftershocks, which have totaled 280 since the September 22, 2003 earthquake.

As the newspapers went to press last night reports were being transmitted that shortly before midnight there had been another earth tremor that sent people out into the streets of Santiago. The reports indicate that the quake was felt in Puerto Plata and even as far afield as the capital. Schoolchildren were sent home yesterday as a result of a second tremor in the early hours of the morning, which the US Geological Survey registered at a magnitude of 4.6. According to the seismological institute, the latest quakes are aftershocks of the major tremor, which occurred on 22 September. Wednesday morning's quake, which was reported in yesterday's DR1 news, caused some panic in the northern region, but little damage. The US Geological Survey, National Earthquake Information Center said the "light earthquake occurred at 11:48 UTC on Wednesday, October 15, 2003. Its epicenter was located near Santiago, 30kms south of Puerto Plata and 140kms northwest of Santo Domingo.

Residents in Santiago and Puerto Plata experienced tremors this morning, as the strongest of a series of aftershocks arrived following the 22 September 6.5 earthquake that shook Puerto Plata, unsettled Santiago, and was felt in Santo Domingo, although with less intensity. According to the US Geological Survey, this morning's aftershock was of a 4.6 magnitude and occurred at 7:48am local time. The earthquake's epicenter was determined to be near Santiago, 30kms from Puerto Plata and 140kms from Santo Domingo.

Dominican geologist Eduardo Verdeja questions the report that quantified the depth of the epicenter of last week's earthquake at 10 km. Verdeja studied earthquakes in Japan, where he lived for many years and bore witness in 1995 to the 7.2 quake that shook Kobe. He says the fact that the earthquake was felt in so many distant places leads him to believe it was deeper than 10km. He also says that Puerto Plata does not have hard soils, and if the measurements were as described the destruction on the ground would have been greater. He also forecast that a bigger earthquake could be coming and urged that lessons be learned from the past, with better preparations made by the authorities.

Over the weekend, 12 houses in Puerto Plata crumbled to the ground and others were more noticeably damaged as aftershocks shook the region. The erosion of Isabel de Torres Mountain has increased, according to eye witness reports. The EGE-Haina generating facility in Puerto Plata will be out of service for at least one month, with repairs needed to anchoring bolts and the supports to the water pumps. President Mejia toured the damaged areas and promised immediate assistance to the people who had lost their homes. Today's El Caribe is reporting that over 200 aftershocks have occurred, the latest taking place yesterday morning and registering 4.6 on the Richter Scale. This followed another strong one on Friday, reported to be a 3.7 magnitude. In Tubagua, on the Gregorio Luperon Highway, six houses fell as a result of the aftershocks. Tubagua is very near the epicenter of the 6.5 quake, and the highway is visibly split. The recent aftershocks have also caused the bell tower structures of San Felipe Cathedral in Puerto Plata to weaken even further, with many fearing that the bells may fall at any moment. Mass is being heard outside the church.

Monday morning's 6.5-magnitude earthquake caused damages estimated at RD$500-RD$700 million in the northern and central regions of the country. El Caribe reports that according to bulletin No. 4 of Emergency Committee, 121 buildings were damaged in Santiago, of which 42 were private dwellings. The tally also includes 44 public schools, 4 hospitals, 4 government offices, and 24 shops. In Puerto Plata, 103 buildings were affected: 47 dwellings, 6 public schools, 1 hospital, 10 government offices, 34 shops and 5 miscellaneous structures. Approximately 10,000 students in Puerto Plata public schools were left without classrooms. In Santiago, where 140 classrooms were considerably damaged, 8,000 students were unable to attend courses in the wake of the seismic activity. The Institute of Seismology says there have been 160 aftershocks following the initial quake. According to the official report, three people died as a consequence of the earthquake - two of heart attacks and one man who was fatally injured when the Mercedes boarding house where he was staying collapsed.

Experts at the Dominican Association for Mitigation of Disasters had been expecting a 7.8 earthquake, prompting the question now of whether yesterday's 6.5 quake was the one waited for, or if another one could be on its way. Following the initial and largest tremor on Monday at 12:45am, there were aftershocks of 5.1 (1:30am), 4.4 (6:58am), and 4.7 (8:39am). El Caribe newspaper interviewed California geologist Jeff Bachhuber, who believes the 6.5 earthquake was of moderate intensity and that the region may still receive greater ones of magnitudes of 7 or 8. Carol Prentice, professor of geology at Humbolt State in California, who said: "No way is the recent earthquake the biggest possible for the DR. It was a moderate one and we know that some day a greater one could happen." Chronology of Dominican earthquakes: Nagua (northeast) - 4 August 1946 - 8.1 magnitude, Santo Domingo (south) - 4 December 1961 - 6.6 magnitude, Azua (southwest) - 11 June 1971 - 6.0 magnitude, Salinas/San Cristobal (southwest) - March 1993 - 5.2 magnitude, Cibao. (central/north) - April 1993 - 5.7 magnitude, San Francisco de Macoris - June 1993 - 5.1 magnitude, Puerto Plata - September 2003 - 6.5 magnitude. El Caribe newspaper reports that history reveals that there were very destructive earthquakes before 1946 taking place in 1897, 1842, 1751, 1761, 1673, 1665, and 1562.