What the record shows for Jamaica
The strongest earthquake on record near Jamaica is a magnitude 7.7 in 2020, centred 123 km NNW of Lucea, Jamaica - 6 years ago. The event is catalogued by USGS. See the event record.
Over the last 20 years, USGS has catalogued 97 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater within 300 km of Jamaica - roughly 5 a year. That rate describes how often the ground moves enough to be recorded, not how often damage occurs; most of these are never felt.
The NOAA NCEI database records 15 tsunamis within 300 km of Jamaica between 1688 and 2020. The most significant was in 1692 near Port Royal, triggered by an M7.7 earthquake, which killed around 3,000 people.
Sources: USGS earthquake catalog, NOAA tsunami database, and the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. Figures update as the catalogs are revised.
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Jamaica sits on the active North American–Caribbean plate boundary; the 1692 Port Royal quake was catastrophic.
The only real protection is a warning the moment the ground moves - which is exactly what the free QuakeMate app gives you, along with tsunami and volcano alerts for Jamaica.
Earthquake risk in Jamaica - FAQ
Is Jamaica at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 5 quakes a year nearby of magnitude 4+ within 300 km, based on the last 20 years of USGS data. The strongest earthquake on record nearby is M7.7 in 2020.
What was the biggest earthquake in Jamaica?
The strongest earthquake on record near Jamaica is M7.7, in 2020 (123 km NNW of Lucea, Jamaica), from USGS.
Does Jamaica get tsunamis?
Yes - 15 tsunamis since 1688 (most recently 2020) within 300 km, from the NOAA database. The deadliest killed around 3,000 people.
How do I get earthquake warnings in Jamaica?
Download the free QuakeMate app for iPhone. It watches your location and sends a real-time push the instant a quake strikes nearby, plus tsunami and volcano alerts, with custom magnitude and distance rules. On Android, join the waitlist.