August 30, 1565 Earthquake: Antigua, Guatemala
An earthquake struck Antigua, Guatemala on August 30, 1565.
Map
Where it struck, with the other significant earthquakes within 200 km. Circles are sized and colored by magnitude; select one for its page.
The earthquake
- Date
- August 30, 1565
- Place
- Antigua, Guatemala
- Intensity
- 8 on the Modified Mercalli scale
- Tsunami
- None recorded
- Volcano
- The eruption it came with
- Epicenter
- 14.600° N, 90.700° W
- Country
- Guatemala
The toll
- Damage
- Moderate (about $1 to $5 million)
- Houses destroyed
- Some (about 51 to 100)
- Houses damaged
- Some (about 51 to 100)
Where the literature gives no number, NCEI records a description on a scale of 1 to 4, printed here in its words. Damage is in millions of US dollars of the year of the event, not adjusted for inflation.
What the record says
NCEI’s account, from the sources it cites.
1565. Guatimala, especially in the neighbourhood of the volcano Paraya [Pacaya]. Accompanied by an eruption of the volcano. (reference #521)
August and September 1565. Antigua, Ciudad Vieja (Almolonga), Comalapa, Escuintla, Chimaltenango. Because almost all year [1656] were majors tremors in the City of Santiago of Guatemala... Cayéronse many houses of Indian on its sad inhabitants, and of those of the Spaniards. None escaped misfortunes, and to flee those that could happen the people left to sleep to the field, and some to live in him, pitching very light tent of pavilions and mats... and that the Earth was calmed were the churches and convents so badly stopped, particularly the one of Our Lady of the Favor, that almost was necessary to do again (Remesal 1932:2:436). The earthquakes that had continued in the year 1565, ruined the old convent of Almolonga and damaged buildings... (Vazquez 1944:325). (reference #103)
1565 Aug 30. Vll+:Escuintla, Chimaltenango, VIII: Antigua, Comalapa, Almolonga, Solola (G), las Casas (M). there was a great earthquake; many houses fell; extraordinary violence [duration: "3 psalms"= ±90? s] (reference #14066)
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
- February 4, 1976, Chimaltenango, Guatemala City
- December 26, 1917, Guatemala City
- April 19, 1902, Quezaltenango, San Marcos, Guatemala
- October 10, 1986, San Salvador, El Salvador
- April 14, 1854, San Salvador, El Salvador
- June 3, 1773, St. Jago, Guatemala
- September 3, 1874, Antigua,chimaltenango,amatitlan, Guatemala
- February 26, 1902, El Salvador-Guatemala
- May 3, 1965, San Marcos, El Salvador
- July 29, 1773, Antigua, Guatemala
- April 20, 1765, Chiquimula, El Salvador, Guatemala
- November 7, 2012, San Marcos, San Cristobal Cochu, Guatemala
- June 19, 1982, San Salvador, Guatemala, El Salvador
- September 18, 1991, Guatemala City, Pachuta, Solola
- July 22, 1816, Soloma, Guatemala
More
Significant earthquakes of 1565The 1500sRecent earthquakes near hereThis day in weather history
Sources
Significant earthquakes from NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, Global Historical Hazard Database, cited as NCEI/WDS, doi:10.7289/V5PN93H7. Public domain. Read 2026-09-24. NCEI earthquake 9788.