What the record shows for Martinique
The strongest earthquake on record near Martinique is a magnitude 7.4 in 2007, centred 18 km WNW of Basse-Pointe, Martinique - 19 years ago. The event is catalogued by USGS. See the event record.
Over the last 20 years, USGS has catalogued 367 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater within 300 km of Martinique - roughly 18 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 31 tsunamis within 300 km of Martinique between 1690 and 2021. The most significant was in 1902 near Mount Pelee, which killed around 28,000 people.
14 volcanoes are catalogued near Martinique, including Pelee, Plat Pays, Morne, Watt, Morne, Trois Pitons, Morne, Qualibou, Diablotins, Morne and 8 more. Volcanic systems generate their own earthquake swarms, which is why activity here can look different from a purely tectonic region.
Sources: USGS earthquake catalog, NOAA tsunami database, and the Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program. Figures update as the catalogs are revised.
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Martinique lies on the Lesser Antilles arc beneath Mount Pelee, whose 1902 eruption was the deadliest of the twentieth century.
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 Martinique.
Earthquake risk in Martinique - FAQ
Is Martinique at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 18 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 M7.4 in 2007.
What was the biggest earthquake in Martinique?
The strongest earthquake on record near Martinique is M7.4, in 2007 (18 km WNW of Basse-Pointe, Martinique), from USGS.
Does Martinique get tsunamis?
Yes - 31 tsunamis since 1690 (most recently 2021) within 300 km, from the NOAA database. The deadliest killed around 28,000 people.
How do I get earthquake warnings in Martinique?
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.