Why was Kingston founded after the 1692 Port Royal earthquake?

Kingston was founded in 1692 because the catastrophic earthquake that struck Port Royal that same year destroyed and inundated most of the town's buildings.12

Following the disaster, the survivors relocated across the bay to establish the new city of Kingston. While Port Royal had previously served as a notorious hub for buccaneers and trade, the destruction necessitated a new settlement, which was consciously planned with a grid-pattern street layout. By 1703, Kingston had officially become the commercial capital of Jamaica.321