It may have been a joke by mother nature, but just a few hours before the start of 'Earthquake Awareness Week' today, a minor quake rocked sections of St. Andrew, yesterday.

According to reports from the Earthquake Unit at the University of the West Indies, the tremor was felt at approximately 12:51 yesterday afternoon and measured 3.2 on the Richter scale with an intensity of between three and four.

Its epicentre was located south-west of Chestervale, St. Andrew, in the Blue Mountains, but could be felt as far as Meadowbrook and Patrick City in the parish.

About 200 earthquakes occur around Jamaica per year. Most of them are minor, measuring magnitudes of less than 4.0. The most active areas are the Blue Mountain block in eastern Jamaica and the Montpelier-Newmarket belt in western Jamaica. Other areas with notable seismic activity include the near offshore south-west of Black River, on the south coast, and offshore Buff Bay and on the north- east coast.