1843 Guadeloupe earthquake
USGS-ANSS | ComCat |
---|---|
Local date | 8 February 1843 |
Local time | 10:37 AM |
Magnitude | 8.5 Muk (est.)[2] |
Epicenter | 16°30′N 62°12′W / 16.5°N 62.2°W[1] |
Max. intensity | MMI IX (Violent) |
Tsunami | 1.2 meters |
Casualties | 1,500–5,000 |
The 1843 Guadeloupe earthquake occurred at 10:37 local time on 8 February in the island of
Tectonic setting
The Lesser Antilles are an
Earthquake
The magnitude of this megathrust earthquake was calculated in the range 7.5–8.0 by Bernard & Lambert in 1988. This was reassessed in 2011 by Feuillet and others, giving an 8.5 magnitude.[2] Later work by Hough in 2013, taking account of reports of the earthquake from the US, supported a magnitude of at least 8.5 for this event.[3]
Damage
In Guadeloupe, Pointe-à-Pitre suffered severe damage with a maximum of 8–900 houses being destroyed of the 1,222 that existed before the earthquake.[4] The earthquake was quickly followed by fires that caused further destruction.[5]
The island of Antigua was also badly affected, with all churches and mills throughout the island reported destroyed. Forty deaths were reported. Damage was also reported from Montserrat, with six casualties.[5]
Tsunami
On Antigua, a rise in sea level by 1.2 meters was interpreted as run-up from the tsunami triggered by the quake. A wharf on the southeast part of the island sank and took on an "undulating appearance".[6]
See also
References
- ^ doi:10.7289/V5TD9V7K. Retrieved 30 July 2022.
- ^ S2CID 51826757.
- ^ S2CID 128458643.
- ^ Deville, Charles (1843). Tremblement de terre à la Guadeloupe le 8 février 1843 (in French). Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe (published July 1843). p. 52.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-108-05435-5.
- .