1839 Martinique earthquake
The 1839 Martinique earthquake occurred on the morning of January 11 with an estimated magnitude of 7.8 Ms , the largest in the Lesser Antilles since 1690. The maximum intensity of this earthquake was assigned IX on both the Mercalli and MSK intensity scales, which left the cities of Saint-Pierre and Fort Royal almost completely destroyed. Estimation on the number of human losses varies from 390 to even 4,000 making this one of the deadliest earthquakes in the Caribbean.
| Local date | 11 January 1839 |
|---|---|
| Local time | 06:00 am AST |
| Magnitude | 7.7–7.8 Ms 7.5–8.0 Mw |
| Depth | 33 km |
| Epicenter | 14.5°N 60.5°W |
| Type | Megathrust |
| Areas affected | Lesser Antilles |
| Total damage | > 15 million Francs |
| Max. intensity | MMI IX (Violent) |
| Tsunami | None |
| Landslides | Yes |
| Casualties | 390–4,000 dead 28,975 injured |
Four years later, the Guadeloupe earthquake with an estimated magnitude 8.5 struck the same region with a human toll between 1,500 and 6,000. It is believed to have originated on the same source fault and may have been related to the eruptions of Mount Pelée in 1851 and 1902.