What the record shows for Nicaragua
The strongest earthquake on record near Nicaragua is a magnitude 7.7 in 1992, centred 83 km SSW of Corinto, Nicaragua - 34 years ago. The event is catalogued by USGS. See the event record.
Over the last 20 years, USGS has catalogued 1,377 earthquakes of magnitude 4 or greater within 300 km of Nicaragua - roughly 69 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 7 tsunamis within 300 km of Nicaragua between 1844 and 1997. The most significant was in 1950 near Costa Rica-Nicaragua, triggered by an M7.7 earthquake.
30 volcanoes are catalogued near Nicaragua, including Lajas, Las, Ciguatepe, Cerro El, Esteli, Granada, Apoyeque, Mombacho and 24 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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Nicaragua’s Pacific coast lies above the Cocos plate subduction zone.
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 Nicaragua.
Earthquake risk in Nicaragua - FAQ
Is Nicaragua at risk of earthquakes?
Yes. On average about 69 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 1992.
What was the biggest earthquake in Nicaragua?
The strongest earthquake on record near Nicaragua is M7.7, in 1992 (83 km SSW of Corinto, Nicaragua), from USGS.
Does Nicaragua get tsunamis?
Yes - 7 tsunamis since 1844 (most recently 1997) within 300 km, from the NOAA database.
How do I get earthquake warnings in Nicaragua?
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.