December 18, 1636 Earthquake: Fort Duma, Awoin, Ghana
A magnitude 5.7 earthquake struck Fort Duma, Awoin, Ghana on December 18, 1636 at 14:00 UTC.
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
- December 18, 1636
- Time
- 14:00 UTC
- Place
- Fort Duma, Awoin, Ghana
- Magnitude
- 5.7
- Intensity
- 9 on the Modified Mercalli scale
- Tsunami
- None recorded
- Epicenter
- 5.100° N, 2.200° W
- Country
- Ghana
The toll
- Deaths
- Many (about 101 to 1,000)
- Damage
- Severe (about $5 to $25 million)
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.
This earthquake caused great damage to the western districts of the Gold Coast. It destroyed Fort Duma and the Awoin villages along the Ankobra river. It also ruined the tunnel, galleries and camp of the Aboasi mine which was situated about 25 km inland, killing all those who worked in it. Damage extended along the Axim coast where Fort San Antonio was shattered. The indication of heavy destruction to native villages suggests a large high intensity area stretching along the lower reaches of the Ankobra, and a comparatively large magnitude. All other details of the earihquake support this (Claridge, 1915 ; Port. Arch., Caron, 1937). (reference #1214)
Other significant earthquakes nearby
Within 200 km, the deadliest first.
More
Significant earthquakes of 1636The 1600sRecent 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 931.