Earthquakes are relatively frequent occurrences in
GuatemalaGuatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast. Its size is just under 110,000 km² with an estimated population...
. The country lies in a major fault zone, known as the
MotaguaThe Motagua Fault is a major, active left lateral-moving transform fault which cuts across Guatemala. It forms part of the tectonic boundary between the North American Plate and the Caribbean Plate...
and
Chixoy-PolochicThe Chixoy-Polochic Fault, also known as Cuilco-Chixoy-Polochic Fault, is a major fault zone in Guatemala and southwestern Mexico. It runs in a light arc from the east coast of Guatemala to Chiapas, following the deep valleys of the Polochic River, Chixoy River and Cuilco River.The Chixoy-Polochic...
fault complex, which cuts across Guatemala and forms the tectonic boundary between the
Caribbean plateThe Caribbean Plate is a mostly oceanic tectonic plate underlying Central America and the Caribbean Sea off the north coast of South America....
and the
North American plateThe North American Plate is a tectonic plate covering most of North America, Greenland and parts of Siberia and Iceland. It extends eastward to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and westward to the Chersky Range in eastern Siberia. The plate includes both continental and oceanic crust. The interior of the...
. In addition, along Guatemala's western coast line, the
Cocos plateThe Cocos Plate is an oceanic tectonic plate beneath the Pacific Ocean off the west coast of Central America, named for Cocos Island, which rides upon it....
pushes against the
Caribbean plateThe Caribbean Plate is a mostly oceanic tectonic plate underlying Central America and the Caribbean Sea off the north coast of South America....
forming a subduction zone known as the
Middle America TrenchThe Middle America Trench is a major subduction zone, an oceanic trench in the eastern Pacific Ocean off the southwestern coast of Middle America, stretching from central Mexico to Costa Rica...
, located approximately 50 km off Guatemala's Pacific coast.
Earthquakes are relatively frequent occurrences in
GuatemalaGuatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast. Its size is just under 110,000 km² with an estimated population...
. The country lies in a major fault zone, known as the
MotaguaThe Motagua Fault is a major, active left lateral-moving transform fault which cuts across Guatemala. It forms part of the tectonic boundary between the North American Plate and the Caribbean Plate...
and
Chixoy-PolochicThe Chixoy-Polochic Fault, also known as Cuilco-Chixoy-Polochic Fault, is a major fault zone in Guatemala and southwestern Mexico. It runs in a light arc from the east coast of Guatemala to Chiapas, following the deep valleys of the Polochic River, Chixoy River and Cuilco River.The Chixoy-Polochic...
fault complex, which cuts across Guatemala and forms the tectonic boundary between the
Caribbean plateThe Caribbean Plate is a mostly oceanic tectonic plate underlying Central America and the Caribbean Sea off the north coast of South America....
and the
North American plateThe North American Plate is a tectonic plate covering most of North America, Greenland and parts of Siberia and Iceland. It extends eastward to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and westward to the Chersky Range in eastern Siberia. The plate includes both continental and oceanic crust. The interior of the...
. In addition, along Guatemala's western coast line, the
Cocos plateThe Cocos Plate is an oceanic tectonic plate beneath the Pacific Ocean off the west coast of Central America, named for Cocos Island, which rides upon it....
pushes against the
Caribbean plateThe Caribbean Plate is a mostly oceanic tectonic plate underlying Central America and the Caribbean Sea off the north coast of South America....
forming a subduction zone known as the
Middle America TrenchThe Middle America Trench is a major subduction zone, an oceanic trench in the eastern Pacific Ocean off the southwestern coast of Middle America, stretching from central Mexico to Costa Rica...
, located approximately 50 km off Guatemala's Pacific coast. This subduction zone led to formation of the Central America Volcanic Arc, and is an important source of offshore earthquakes. Both these major tectonic processes have generated deformations within the Caribbean plate and produced secondary fault zones, like the Mixco, Jalpatagua, and Santa Catarina Pinula faults.
The most destructive earthquake in recent Guatemalan history was the
1976 quakeThe 1976 Guatemala earthquake struck on February 4, 1976. It was a 7.5 M
w earthquake, centered in the Motagua Fault, about 160 km northeast of Guatemala City, Guatemala....
with a magnitude of 7.5
MwThe moment magnitude scale is used by seismologists to measure the size of earthquakes in terms of the energy released...
and a
hypocenterThe hypocenter or hypocentre , refers to the site of an earthquake or to that of a nuclear explosion...
depth of just 5 km. This shallow-focus earthquake, originating from the Motagua Fault, caused 23,000 fatalities, leaving 76,000 injured and causing widespread material damage. Surprisingly, the 7.9
MwThe moment magnitude scale is used by seismologists to measure the size of earthquakes in terms of the energy released...
earthquake of 1942 -though higher in magnitude- was much less destructive, in part because of its substantially deeper hypocenter depth of 60 km.
A number of earthquakes with low magnitudes caused major damage in very localized areas, which may in part be explained by their relatively shallow depth. This was the case with the 1985 Uspantán earthquake of 5.0
MwThe moment magnitude scale is used by seismologists to measure the size of earthquakes in terms of the energy released...
with a depth of 5 km, which destroyed most buildings in the town of
UspantánUspantán is a municipality in the Guatemalan department of El Quiché. It is one of the largest municipalities of El Quiché and stretches from the mountainous highlands in the South to the tropical lowlands in the North. The municipal seat is in the town of San Miguel Uspantán with a population of...
, but caused little or no damage in the rest of the country.
Recent earthquakes
Notable earthquakes in recent Guatemalan history include the following:
| Name |
Date |
Epicentre |
M |
MM |
Depth
(km) |
Notes |
Deaths |
| 1717 Guatemala earthquake The 1717 Guatemala earthquake was an earthquake that struck Guatemala on September 29 1717 and had an estimated magnitude of 7.4 Mw. With an intensity of approximately MM IX, the earthquake essentially destroyed much of the architecture of Antigua Guatemala, which was the colonial...
|
1717092900001717-09-29
|
n/d
Antigua GuatemalaLa Antigua Guatemala is a city in the central highlands of Guatemala famous for its well-preserved Spanish Mudéjar-influenced Baroque architecture as well as a number of spectacular ruins of colonial churches...
|
7.4 |
~IX |
n/d |
Modified Mercalli intensity estimated at IX |
n/d |
| 1765 Guatemala earthquake |
1765102400001765-10-24
|
Ostuncalco Ostuncalco, full name San Juan Ostuncalco, is a municipality in the Quetzaltenango department of Guatemala.La Victoria is a village in this department.The "Baile del Torito" is a local dance from San Juan Ostuncalco;...
(QuetzaltenangoQuetzaltenango is a department in Guatemala. The capital is the city of Quetzaltenango, the 2nd-largest city in Guatemala.- Municipalities :# Almolonga# Cabricán# Cajolá# Cantel# Coatepeque# Colomba# Concepción Chiquirichapa# El Palmar...
) |
7.6-8.2 |
~VII |
n/d |
Modified Mercalli intensity estimated at VII. Duration of shaking reported at 7–8 minutes, which may indicate possible rupture up to Chiapas. |
n/d |
| 1816 Guatemala earthquake |
1816072200001816-07-22
|
n/d
Alta VerapazAlta Verapaz is a department in the north central part of Guatemala. The capital and chief city of the department is Cobán. Verapaz is bordered to the north by El Petén, to the east by Izabal, to the south by Zacapa, El Progreso, and Baja Verapaz, and to the west by El Quiché.Also in Alta Verapaz...
Chixoy-Polochic FaultThe Chixoy-Polochic Fault, also known as Cuilco-Chixoy-Polochic Fault, is a major fault zone in Guatemala and southwestern Mexico. It runs in a light arc from the east coast of Guatemala to Chiapas, following the deep valleys of the Polochic River, Chixoy River and Cuilco River.The Chixoy-Polochic...
|
7.5 |
~VII |
n/d |
Modified Mercalli intensity estimated at VII, covering 13,000 km2 |
n/d |
| 1902 Guatemala earthquake |
1902041808551902-04-18
08:55 hrs |
| QuetzaltenangoQuetzaltenango is a department in Guatemala. The capital is the city of Quetzaltenango, the 2nd-largest city in Guatemala.- Municipalities :# Almolonga# Cabricán# Cajolá# Cantel# Coatepeque# Colomba# Concepción Chiquirichapa# El Palmar...
7.5 |
n/d |
25 [60] |
See also: 1902 Guatemala earthquake |
800-900 |
| 1913 Guatemala earthquake |
191303082012501913-03-08
20:23:50 hrs |
n/d
near CuilapaCuilapa, also known as Santa Rosa Cuilapa, is a town in Guatemala. It serves as the capital of the department of Santa Rosa and as the administrative seat for the surrounding municipality of Cuilapa....
Jalpatagua Fault |
n/d |
5 |
n/d |
Destroyed the town of CuilapaCuilapa, also known as Santa Rosa Cuilapa, is a town in Guatemala. It serves as the capital of the department of Santa Rosa and as the administrative seat for the surrounding municipality of Cuilapa....
|
n/d |
| 1917 Guatemala earthquake |
2001062300001917-12-26
05:21:00 hrs |
n/d
Guatemala CityGuatemala City is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Guatemala...
|
n/d |
VII-IX |
n/d |
Several foreshocks since November 27 1917 have preceded this quake. |
250 |
| 1918 Guatemala earthquake |
1918010400001918-01-04
04:30.10 and 04:32.25 LT |
n/d
near Guatemala CityGuatemala City is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Guatemala...
|
6.0 |
VI |
n/d |
Magnitude estimate by INSUVIMEH |
n/d |
| 1942 Guatemala earthquake |
1942080600001942-08-06
23:36.98 hrs |
| Western Guatemala
7.9 |
- |
60 |
Mainly widespread material damage |
38 |
| 1959 Guatemala earthquake |
1959022000001959-02-20
18:16.33 hrs |
| IxcánIxcán is a municipality in the Guatemalan department of El Quiché. Its administrative centre can be found in Playa Grande. The municipality consists of 176 communities, called aldeas. It has an area of 1575 km
2...
n/d |
- |
48 |
|
n/d |
1976 Guatemala earthquakeThe 1976 Guatemala earthquake struck on February 4, 1976. It was a 7.5 M w earthquake, centered in the Motagua Fault, about 160 km northeast of Guatemala City, Guatemala....
|
1976020400001976-02-04
03:03:33 hrs |
| Motagua FaultThe Motagua Fault is a major, active left lateral-moving transform fault which cuts across Guatemala. It forms part of the tectonic boundary between the North American Plate and the Caribbean Plate...
7.5 |
X |
5 |
Activated destructive aftershocks in the Mixco Fault near Guatemala City Guatemala City is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Guatemala...
. See also:1976 Guatemala earthquakeThe 1976 Guatemala earthquake struck on February 4, 1976. It was a 7.5 M w earthquake, centered in the Motagua Fault, about 160 km northeast of Guatemala City, Guatemala....
|
23,000 |
| 1985 Guatemala earthquake |
1985101100001985-10-11
03:39.17 hrs |
| UspantánUspantán is a municipality in the Guatemalan department of El Quiché. It is one of the largest municipalities of El Quiché and stretches from the mountainous highlands in the South to the tropical lowlands in the North. The municipal seat is in the town of San Miguel Uspantán with a population of...
5.0 |
- |
5 |
Major damage in the town of UspantánUspantán is a municipality in the Guatemalan department of El Quiché. It is one of the largest municipalities of El Quiché and stretches from the mountainous highlands in the South to the tropical lowlands in the North. The municipal seat is in the town of San Miguel Uspantán with a population of...
(80% of buildings affected) |
n/d |
| 1991 Guatemala earthquake |
1991091100001991-09-11
03:48:13 hrs |
| PochutaPochuta is a municipality in the Chimaltenango department of Guatemala....
5.3 |
VII |
32 |
Destroyed 80% of the town of San Miguel Pochuta Pochuta is a municipality in the Chimaltenango department of Guatemala....
|
25 |
| 1995 Guatemala earthquake |
1995121900001995-12-19
14:56:06 hrs |
| TucurúTucurú is a municipality in the Guatemalan department of Alta Verapaz....
5.3 |
IV |
10 |
|
1 |
| 1998 Guatemala earthquake |
1998011000001998-01-10
02:20:10 hrs |
| offshore Pacific OceanThe Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. Its name is derived from the Latin name Tepre Pacificum, "peaceful sea", bestowed upon it by the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan. It extends from the Arctic in the north to Antarctica in the south, bounded by Asia and...
5.8 |
VII, VI |
33 |
Limited material damage |
n/d |
| 1998 Guatemala earthquake (March) |
1998030200001998-03-02
20:24:46 LT |
| offshore Pacific OceanThe Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. Its name is derived from the Latin name Tepre Pacificum, "peaceful sea", bestowed upon it by the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan. It extends from the Arctic in the north to Antarctica in the south, bounded by Asia and...
5.6 |
V, III |
33 |
|
n/d |
2007 Guatemala earthquakeThe 2007 Guatemala earthquake occurred on June 13, 2007 occurred at 19:29:46 UTC . The epicenter was located in the Pacific Ocean, south of Puerto Quetzal, about 115 km south-southwest of Guatemala City....
|
2007061300002007-06-13
02:29:41 hrs |
| offshore Pacific OceanThe Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. Its name is derived from the Latin name Tepre Pacificum, "peaceful sea", bestowed upon it by the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan. It extends from the Arctic in the north to Antarctica in the south, bounded by Asia and...
115 km southwest of Guatemala City
6.7 |
- |
23 |
See also: 2007 Guatemala earthquakeThe 2007 Guatemala earthquake occurred on June 13, 2007 occurred at 19:29:46 UTC . The epicenter was located in the Pacific Ocean, south of Puerto Quetzal, about 115 km south-southwest of Guatemala City....
|
n/d |
| 2008 Guatemala earthquake |
2008052700002008-05-27
11:28:01 UTC |
| offshore Pacific OceanThe Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. Its name is derived from the Latin name Tepre Pacificum, "peaceful sea", bestowed upon it by the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan. It extends from the Arctic in the north to Antarctica in the south, bounded by Asia and...
120 km southwest of Guatemala City
5.7 |
- |
78 |
|
n/d |
|
| 2009 Guatemala earthquake |
2009050316212009-05-03
16:21:47 UTC |
| South of PatzúnPatzún is a municipality in the Chimaltenango department of Guatemala.-External links:*http://www.patzun.gob.gt/portal/...
55 km (35 miles) ESE of Quezaltenango
6.2 |
- |
124 |
|
n/d |
Sources
External links