The 1843 Guadeloupe Earthquake strikes the Caribbean

Background. Guadeloupe is an archipelago in the Caribbean, part of the Lesser Antilles volcanic arc. The region is situated at the outer edge of the Caribbean Plate, where oceanic crust subduction occurs. This tectonic setting, involving the subduction of the North American plate beneath the Caribbean plate, creates conditions for significant seismic activity, including large megathrust earthquakes on the plate interface.

Event Details. The earthquake occurred at 10:37 local time on 8 February 1843. It had an estimated magnitude of 8.5, making it the strongest recorded earthquake in the Caribbean. The maximum perceived intensity of shaking was IX on the Mercalli intensity scale. The seismic waves were felt widely throughout the Caribbean, extending as far as New York.

Impact. The earthquake resulted in an estimated 1,500 to 5,000 deaths. It is considered the most violent earthquake known in the Lesser Antilles to this day. The event occurred in a region prone to large megathrust earthquakes on the plate interface, distinct from smaller intraplate earthquakes within the arc.