1766 Southeastern Caribbean earthquake

1766 Southeastern Caribbean earthquake

Local date	October 21, 1766 (1766-10-21)
Local time	04:30 (at Cumaná, Venezuela)
Magnitude	6.5–7.5 Ms
Depth	85 ± 20 km (53 ± 12 mi)
Epicenter	11°00′N 62°30′W / 11.0°N 62.5°W / 11.0; -62.5
Areas affected	Venezuela, Trinidad
Max. intensity	EMS-98 IX (Destructive)– EMS-98 X (Very destructive)
Casualties	None recorded

Venezuela and Trinidad were struck by a major earthquake on 21 October 1766 at 4:30 in the morning local time in Cumaná, Venezuela (4:45 local time in Trinidad). It caused widespread damage from Caracas in the west to Georgetown, Guyana in the east. Despite the significant damage caused, there are no reports of casualties associated with this earthquake. It had an estimated magnitude in the range 6.5–7.5 M_s and a maximum felt intensity of IX-X (destructive to very destructive) on the European macroseismic scale. It was felt from Guadeloupe in the north to the Ventuari River in the south and Maracaibo in the west and Kaw, French Guiana in the east.^[1]

Tectonic setting

The southeastern margin of the Caribbean lies above the complex boundary between the

The magnitude and depth of this event has been estimated based on the extent and shape of isoseismals. The wide extent of moderate to severe shaking suggests an intermediate focal depth for the earthquake of 85 ± 20 kilometres (53 ± 12 miles). This depth is not consistent with rupture along the transform margin, where earthquakes are typically shallow focus, but is consistent with rupture along the subduction interface at the southern end of the Lesser Antilles subduction zone, at the transition to the transform boundary.^[1] The magnitude of the earthquake is estimated to be in the range 6.5–7.5 M_s .

Damage

The island of Trinidad was the hardest hit by the earthquake. Many houses suffered severe damage or collapsed, as did various religious buildings and at least one fort. Of the estimated population at that time of about 1,500 people there were no reported casualties. Cumaná was severely affected, with the city being described as "entirely destroyed" by Alexander von Humboldt and Aimé Bonpland in their account of their travels in the area from 1799 to 1804, published in 1814. Again there are no reports of casualties, despite the reported damage. In Caracas the damage to houses was generally minor, but several larger structures, including some religious buildings, were more badly affected.^[1]

See also

• List of historical earthquakes
• List of earthquakes in Venezuela
• List of earthquakes in the Caribbean

References