2007 Martinique earthquake

2007 Martinique earthquake
2007 Martinique earthquake is located in Martinique
2007 Martinique earthquake
2007 Martinique earthquake is located in Lesser Antilles
2007 Martinique earthquake
UTC time2007-11-29 19:00:19
ISC event13276920
USGS-ANSSComCat
Local dateNovember 29, 2007 (2007-11-29)
Local time15:00:19 (local time)
Magnitude7.4 Mw[1]
Depth150 km (93 mi)[1]
Epicenter14°59′N 61°16′W / 14.98°N 61.26°W / 14.98; -61.26[1]
Areas affectedMartinique, France
Max. intensityMMI VII (Very strong)
Casualties1 dead
100+ injured[2]

The 2007 Martinique earthquake took place on November 29, 2007, at 15:00:19 local time in the Windward Islands region, underneath the Martinique Passage. It was a magnitude 7.4 earthquake that occurred 18 km (11 mi) west northwest from Basse-Pointe, Martinique.[2]

This earthquake was felt strongly in Martinique, Dominica, St. Lucia, Guadeloupe, Montserrat, Antigua, St Kitts and Nevis, Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico. Power outages were reported in Martinique, Dominica and Guadeloupe. It was also felt in other Eastern Caribbean islands, from Puerto Rico to the north to Trinidad and Tobago to the south. It could also be felt in part of South America such as in Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana.[3] In Caracas, Venezuela, some people evacuated office buildings.[4] The intensity reached VI to VII on the EMS98 scale in Martinique and Dominica.[5]

In the surrounding region, the South American plate is subducting beneath the Caribbean plate. This earthquake occurred within the South America Plate and was in response to stresses generated by the slow distortion of the plate.

  1. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference ISC-GEM was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ a b "M7.4 – 18 km WNW of Basse-Pointe, Martinique". United States Geological Survey.
  3. ^ "Caribseek Guyana News | Guyana experienced earthquake event – GINA News". Archived from the original on 2011-07-08. Retrieved 2009-10-11.
  4. ^ "Strong earthquake hits Martinique". BBC News. November 30, 2007. Archived from the original on 24 January 2010. Retrieved February 28, 2010.
  5. ^ Loi d'atténuation B-Cube pour l’évaluation rapide des intensités sismiques probables dans l'Archipel de Guadeloupe