Earthquakes in Nicaragua Today
Off Nicaragua's Pacific coast the Cocos plate subducts beneath the Caribbean plate, and an active volcanic chain runs along the Nicaraguan Depression. Shallow faults beneath Managua caused the 1972 earthquake that destroyed the capital's centre.
Danger Level (72h)
72-hour composite hazard forecast
Recent Quakes (30d)
Recorded in the last 30 days
Max Magnitude (30d)
Largest earthquake in the last 30 days
Managua, Nicaragua
7mo ago•160 km•Felt by about 3,148,768 people
Recent earthquakes
20Counts cover the seismic belts this platform monitors in Nicaragua, not its administrative borders. A monitored belt can reach across a border, and events there are listed with the country of their epicentre.
Monitored regions
Volcanoes of Nicaragua
1 dedicated profiles · 13 Holocene volcanoes in total
Tectonic setting
Off Nicaragua's Pacific coast the Cocos plate subducts beneath the Caribbean plate, and an active volcanic chain runs along the Nicaraguan Depression. Shallow faults beneath Managua caused the 1972 earthquake that destroyed the capital's centre.
Frequently asked questions
How often do earthquakes occur in Nicaragua?
Our catalogue recorded 76 earthquakes across the 1 seismic belts monitored in Nicaragua over the last 30 days, the strongest reaching M4.9.
Why are there so many earthquakes in Nicaragua?
Off Nicaragua's Pacific coast the Cocos plate subducts beneath the Caribbean plate, and an active volcanic chain runs along the Nicaraguan Depression. Shallow faults beneath Managua caused the 1972 earthquake that destroyed the capital's centre.
What was the strongest earthquake in Nicaragua?
The strongest earthquake in Nicaragua in our historical catalogue is the M7.7 event of September 2, 1992. Death toll: 170.
What is the emergency number in Nicaragua?
The emergency number in Nicaragua is 115, answered by Fire service, 911 from mobiles (police 118, ambulance 128). After strong shaking, keep the line free for those trapped or injured and check official channels for aftershock and tsunami advisories.
Who monitors earthquakes in Nicaragua?
The national seismic authority is Instituto Nicaragüense de Estudios Territoriales (INETER). EarthquakeLive cross-checks its bulletins against 18 international networks, so an event may appear here with a slightly different magnitude until the agencies converge on a final solution.