November 29, 2007: Reports say that at least two  persons died as a result of the powerful 7.4 earthquake struck near the French Island of Martinique in the Eastern Caribbean on Thursday afternoon. 

One fatality was a British man who, according to officials on the island, died after suffering a heart attack.

The second fatality was in Guadeloupe where authorities say the quake claimed the life of a three-year-old girl, injured numerous people and caused widespread damage on the island. The girl was apparently crushed by a collapsed wall in Trois-Rivieres on the island Basse-Terre and died on her way to hospital, while her seven-year-old sister was in critical condition.

In Martinique, there have been at least two other reports of serious injuries caused by two persons throwing themselves out of windows during the quake. France's overseas minister told French Television that about 100 persons required medical treatment on Martinique.

The earthquake was felt in most regional Capitals from Caracas in South America to San Juan in the north, traversing the entire north-south chain of islands.

There were reports of buildings collapsing in both Martinique and Barbados and rattled residents in most of the islands.

According to AFP: "For the moment, a building and a bank have collapsed in Martinique, and on the nearby island of Barbados, several buildings were also destroyed in the capital Bridgetown and the chief of emergency services was hurt during a rescue attempt."

The quake shook for approximately 20 seconds. Its epicenter was located 41 kilometers north-northwest of Fort de France in Martinique at a depth of 145 kilometers.