MEMORIES JOLTED ON ANNIVERSARY DEVASTATING EARTHQUAKE IN 1974

Wednesday October 8, 2025 marked the 51st anniversary of the earthquake that jolted Antigua and Barbuda and neighbouring islands in 1974.

The Museum of Antigua and Barbuda shared images with ABS News from the damage wrought by the 7.5 magnitude quake.

It caused widespread destruction to buildings, infrastructure, and historical landmarks. The West Indies Oil Refinery sustained significant damage, with thousands of barrels of crude oil leaking from tanks. The Cathedral of St John the Divine, a historic landmark, also sustained extensive damage to its masonry exterior.

ABS’ Deputy Director of News, Nicola Barriteau, recounts the frightening childhood experience, “As i reflect on that fateful day, October 8, 1974, the memories come flooding back. I was just four years old, but the terror i felt that morning is still vivid in my mind. My mother woke me up, shaking me gently, her face etched with fear. She was in her nightgown, clutching a butterknife in her hand, while my father, also in his nightwear, stood right behind her. I had no idea what was happening, but i knew something was wrong.

My father quickly picked up my brother from his crib and rushed us to their bedroom. We huddled together on the bed, my mother still holding the butter knife, my brother still asleep in my father’s arms, and me clinging to my mother as she prayed. The noise was deafening – the sound of crashing, the shaking, and the bedroom door banging wildly. I watched in horror and in awe as the refrigerator seemed to dance across the living room, moving from the kitchen to the front door.

The 1974 antigua earthquake was a devastating event that left its mark on the nation. With a magnitude of 7.5 on the richter scale,

Fifty-one years have passed since that fateful day, but the memories of the earthquake still linger. As a nation, we look back and reflect on the importance of disaster preparedness. The earthquake’s impact was felt across the leeward islands, and it’s a reminder that we must always be prepared for the unexpected.